A Northumberland vocal coach has been making records of her own during the UK lockdown after reporting her highest ever numbers of students.
Julie Miles, who runs Vocal Ovation from private studios in Stocksfield specialising in music, performing, singing and coaching, feared the worst when a host of students cancelled their one-to-one sessions when the Covid-19 crisis arrived in March.
Since then, however, Mrs Miles has been inundated with requests for virtual coaching from across the UK and further afield, thanks to the boom in popularity of video conferencing facilities such as Skype and Zoom.
Mrs Miles, who also spent 10 years in senior management running a successful sales department, counts a raft of TV talent show finalists among her stable of performers.
They have been joined by a 25% rise in clients she has been able to work with in the last two months, including people based in cities across the UK and even in the US state, Michigan.
As UK mentor for international teaching organisation, Modern Vocal Training, she also continues to complete personal online training plus support new and existing teachers in the UK.
In the last three years alone, her students have appeared on the likes of The Voice, Britain’s Got Talent and America’s Got Talent, when County Durham’s Courtney Hadwin secured a moving golden-buzzer moment from judge Howie Mandel.
She said: “During this rather trying time, it’s been important for me to continue working and be available to my dedicated students – whether that’s working on technical ability, which needs constant attention, or preparing for the current surge in online shows and performances later in the year.
“Nothing beats the opportunity to work one to one in the studio with my students and I think we all want to return to normality in a safe and healthy manner, but it’s been a huge boost to know that no matter how long lockdown lasts, I can keep on helping them to improve.”
Mrs Miles, who this year marks 10 years of trading with Vocal Ovation, has even been able to put on online showcases for producers of The Voice and auditions for the upcoming Teen Star and Open Mic UK competitions.
