Biography
Virginia Herrera-Crilly is a vocal artist and teacher operating Crillera Vocal Studio in Stamford, CT. She began her vocal training in the country of her birth – México – going on to study in Rome, NYC, and at OMTI with the legendary Jerome Hines. She has taught voice to students at all levels for over 20 years in adult and elementary music education. Since 2008, she has judged student and professional singers in the classical and musical theater divisions of the annual Classical Singer Music Vocal Competition.
While living in the Bronx, NY, Virginia served as director of the vocal department for Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts. She went on to work as a music educator in Stamford, CT with the City’s Catholic Schools, the Recreational Services Department, and at Long Ridge Music Center. All the while Virginia continues instructing private students.
As a performer, Virginia has been acclaimed by Opera News as having an “uncommonly beautiful sound,” with “tonal beauty and liquid phrasing,” She has performed in operas, zarzuelas, and concerts around the world in venues such as Weill Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Merkin Hall, Town Hall, and PNC Arts Center. She is proud to have worked with some of the world’s great conductors including Pablo Zinger, Anton Coppola, Jorge Parodi, Borislav Ivanov, Enrique Patrón de Rueda, and Per Brevig.
Virginia has been recognized for her work in BESAME MUCHO including winning the ACE 2014 Award for Best Musical Production in the Latin Theater in NYC and the HOLA 2013 Award for Excellence in Theater. Her voice is featured in the soundtrack of the Mexican short film “Under the Rubble” nominated for Best Short Film at the Tribeca Film Festival’06 and for Best Original Music at the Pantalla de Cristal Festival’06 in México.
Among these many activities, Virginia places singing as a cantor for weekly Masses, funerals and wedding services at the top of her list. She believes strongly in sharing one’s gifts whether it’s at your local church, in the studio, or on a professional stage.
Approach and Philosophy
“If you can speak you can sing!”
“Or, put another way, singing is the most natural thing in the world. As an infant, we could “sing” for hours and never lose our voices (just ask your parents). We ‘unlearn’ the gift of singing that is our birthright and good vocal instruction uncovers the natural abilities we all possess that can make anyone a better singer. Through my years of singing and teaching, I have learned from teachers AND students and have distilled these ideas and experiences into my own method of instruction that develops this natural God-given instrument in each student.”
Voice Lessons
Each person’s voice is unique, and so, taking voice lessons is a very personal experience for each student. Virginia gets to know her students and crafts their instruction to their needs, teaching them to know, accept, develop, and control their particular vocal instrument in a natural way. She teaches a technique that may be applied to all styles and genres of music. Lessons are conducted either out of Crillera Voice Studio in Stamford, CT, or online from the comfort of your own computer.
Virginia also teaches a seasonal group workshop out of Stamford’s Curtain Call Theater entitled “Measure for Measure”. Participants learn to strengthen vocal technique and breakdown songs to explore both their technical and storytelling components.
- One on one vocal instruction – all levels
- Vocal technique, including breath support, projection, diction
- Musical interpretation and stage presence
- Vocal repertoire, different in style and language
- Audition and performance preparation (for choirs, schools, stage)
- Competition, recital, and talent show prep
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Performance Samples
For over 30 years, Virginia’s has performed around the world in concert and in staged productions of opera and zarzuela.