We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Julia Kershetsky. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Julia below.

Julia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

My approach to teaching puts the student in the driver’s seat. After many years (and performing arts degrees) of teachers telling me to do x, but not actually having x be tangible I became disheartened and frustrated. My approach to teaching is focused on the individual in front of me — we create a language together based on THEIR feelings and observations. This way they are continuing to process the way they know how and I am there assisting. As a teacher, I can’t be with my students every step of the way, so I teach them to be their own vocal advocates.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I credit her career to an early love of music influenced by my upbringing (my father as a choral director and teacher, and my mother as a dancer, actor, and teacher). We always went to see professional theater growing up. I fell in love with singing itself during my high school years in various County, District, and Regional State Choirs and during the high school musical, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, where I portrayed Belle. After graduation from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Vocal Performance, I started teaching voice lessons and realized how much I loved it. Fast forward to several years later, I went to New York University to obtain a dual Masters Degree in Musical Theatre Performance and Vocal Pedagogy.

My studio ranges from college students actively pursuing their Bachelor Of Fine Arts at CAP21 in New York City to professionals actively auditioning, to serious hobby-ists. Each client is different and has their own needs and wants. From my client who has a callback for a Broadway show to someone who really wants to nail a karaoke song at the work retreat. What I believe sets me apart from others is my individualized approach to each person. I figure out what they need from the studio and adjust accordingly to the best of my ability. I lead with kindness and a focus on what can actively be focused on, instead of what NOT to do. I am most proud of the lightbulb moments that happen in the studio, as well as clients achieving the goals we set together.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Word of mouth. Many of my clients found me through doing shows together as performers, or through a friend’s recommendation. I’ve also optimized the SEO on my website, which has drawn a lot of people to my webpage from Google searches.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The SpeakEasy Cooperative is a group founded and run by Michelle Deveaux that I found during the pandemic. It was through her that I revamped my business and set it up as a 3 month commitment (like a college semester), with a build-in makeup week. It has weeded out people who weren’t serious about committing to weekly voice lessons.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://starlingvoicestudio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starlingvoice/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starlingvoice
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliakershetsky/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO-K6lMtZ8zRzNrtsMiL86A
• Other: Personal acting website: https://www.juliakershetsky.com/

Image Credits

Headshot Billy Bustamente