Geneil Perkins, Mezzo-soprano
Singer | Educator
Hello and welcome to my page! I aim to help students discover the joy and beauty of music-making, unlock their vocal potential, and help them explore their innate ability to express themselves and connect with others through the power of music.
Gallery
About Geneil Perkins
“Mezzo-soprano Geneil Perkins sings with poise and seemingly effortless grace.” -Bryce Christensen, Orchestra of Southern Utah
A native of southern California, Geneil Perkins has worked as a singer, voice teacher, pianist, and music educator. Her approach to teaching is holistic, drawing on a background in vocal pedagogy and music education, and based on over a decade of experience in teaching and performing.
Encouraged by her own teachers, Geneil began her studies in vocal performance at Southern Utah University. It was there that she realized her love for art song and opera and had many opportunities to perform during her studies there. Upon receiving her B.M., Geneil sought to further her education by beginning the M.M. at Brigham Young University and was awarded a graduate assistantship which began her career in teaching. She was given the opportunity to teach private voice lessons to non-voice majors as well as an opportunity to teach Class Voice. A few years after the completion of her master’s, she was hired at Brigham Young University as an adjunct professor of voice. It was then that Geneil truly discovered her love for teaching—her vibrant and attentive students inspired her to continue her studies so that she would be better able to serve and educate people on their respective vocal journeys. She went on to attend Indiana University to pursue a D.M. in Voice. She was awarded an Associate Instructor position and was again able to teach private voice lessons to non-voice majors and to teach Class Voice.
During her studies, Geneil also had the opportunity to perform various opera roles at the institutions she attended. Some of her favorites include Prinz Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), Zita (Gianni Schicchi), La Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica), Miss Todd (The Old Maid and the Thief), and Dame Quickly (Falstaff). In addition to her love of opera and art song, Geneil is also an accomplished choral musician. She has performed with various professional choirs across the country and continues to make choral singing a priority in her performing career. Geneil has been singing with Brevitas since their inaugural year in 2013 and has recorded several albums during her time on their roster. She also had the privilege of singing with Seraphic Fire and the Professional Choral Institute on Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 which was nominated for a GRAMMY award in 2011 for Best Choral Performance.
An ongoing learner, Geneil enjoys studying the voice from different perspectives, developing herself as a teacher and performer, and continues seeking training in the fields of vocal pedagogy and musicianship. Her desire for each student who enters her studio and classroom is for them to find joy in their instrument, to develop confidence in their musical abilities, and to have the courage to express and connect to the deep complexities of human emotion.
Choral education students after winter juries
Testimonials
Kirstin Regis, BME Choral Education
"Geneil is such a fantastic teacher! I loved taking voice lessons from her, and felt like she cared about me as a person as well as developing my voice. She gave me the space to try new things and was always so positive and encouraging which made a world of difference when I was trying to learn a new concept. She helped me develop my confidence as a singer and do things that stretched my comfort zone and help me grow. I’m grateful to have taken lessons from her!"
Anonymous Student Review, Class Voice
"I can only say that this class has uplifted every aspect of my life. Geneil always sought ways to improve our abilities. She accepted questions and opinions with rapture and doesn't degrade the students. I loved going to this class and receiving instruction from someone who was more than a professor, but a friend. She taught and interacted so personally and at our level. She had her rules and encouraged work, but never felt overbearing. She only pushed us to excellence."
Mikayla Wallis, BM Voice
"Geneil Perkins is a fabulous voice teacher. I remember one day in my voice lesson being so frustrated with my vocal technique and feeling overwhelmed. Geneil had me stop trying so hard and sing for fun. Afterward, she reminded me that we sing because we love it and are passionate about singing. Not only does she help her students understand why we sing, but also how to sing. She understands how the voice works, how to explain the concepts simply, and how to challenge her students. A teacher with all of these qualities is truly a rare gem. If you get to work with Geneil, get ready to work hard and love music."
Kiersten Hopkins Bedke, BME Choral Education
"Geneil was a pivotal teacher for me in my vocal development. I always felt uplifted after lessons and I even had fun. Geneil has a way of making me feel like I am the most important person when I am with her. She was always in tune with my needs and found creative ways to help me improve my technique. She helped me pick repertoire that I loved, was perfect for my voice, and stretched me as well."
Anonymous Student Review, Class Voice
"Geneil was a phenomenal teacher. She cares for each of her students and took the time to help us with our vocal technique-even after class if we needed her to. She is extremely intelligent, explains concepts thoroughly, and she makes the class fun. She has this unique ability to make everyone feel comfortable-you just know she cares about you."
Ally Christensen, BM Voice
"Geneil is a fantastic teacher and I’m so glad I got to learn from her. She has the understanding to quickly diagnose problems, she knows how to teach solutions, and best of all, she makes you feel so comfortable and uplifted throughout the process. She was also very helpful with giving recommendations for new repertoire. I totally recommend working with her!"
Contact
Get in touch to learn more about Geneil Perkins, her music, and upcoming appearances.