Experience

Newcastle College

• United Kingdom
• Education Administration Programs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Co-hort lead and vocal coach musical theatre HE

  • Sep 2022 - Present



VocalCoachSA

• Johannesburg

• Head Coach

  • Jan 2014 - Present

  VocalCoachSA is a professional singing studio successfully run by Cathrine Hopkins since 2014 Cathrine specialises in CCM and Musical theatre vocal technique and repertoire to professional performers, tertiary level students and scholars. ​• Sessions are designed around creating technical mastery in all required styles currently used in musical theatre and voice production. • Sessions are also designed around the entertainer’s preparation for an upcoming contract. This includes physical vocal stamina, range strengthening and mastery in the required music style of their contract. • Singers are given individual exercise designs to strengthen and condition their voice in all vocal styles: legit (classical), contemporary musical theatre, pop, rock, R&B, and gospel. VFE’s (Vocal Function Exercises) are used to help prevent vocal fatigue during performances and to optimize vocal stamina. • Specialist training is provided to successfully assist classical singers wanting to cross over into CCM (Contemporary Commercial Music) singing. • Teaching successful implementation of all vocal stylisms needed to create different music genres e.g.: belt, vocal fry’s, vocal distortions, riffs, portamento, cry’s and vibrato. • Providing extensive training in physical and emotional expressions for all genres of singing. VOCAL CROSS-TRAINING INCLUDES • Vocal range extension, agility, and strength throughout the vocal registers, including working in flageolet. • Flexibility in the vocal mechanism to be able to sing in different character and vocal genres as required in musical theatre. • Vocal endurance and SOVT (Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract) exercise design to balance the voice and create ideal resonant sound • Extensive and exclusive access to repertoire selections, with appropriate audition cuts. Musical theatre audition preparation in alignment with industry standards. Show less



Waterfront Theatre School

• Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

• Head Vocal Coach

  • Jan 2013 - 2014

  Head vocal coach for a private tertiary musical theatre and dance institute. Duties included overseeing all vocal coaching within the school. Ages of students range from 13 – 26years old. All students were trained and prepared for TRINITY COLLEGE EXAMINATIONS from Performers Certificate to Licentiate level. For the COLLEGE: Musically Directed “The Yellow Wood” for the Grahamstown National Arts Festival. Musically directed and conceptualised the annual CHORAL CONCERT: A two night special show, showcasing all the choral work performed by the students. All works were specifically arranged by myself, in order to showcase the best of the singers talent. The following Lectures were conducted: Technical vocal master class: Two hour and half lectures of practical application and understanding of the voice and how to sing in the musical theatre and pop genre. Group Feedback Sessions: 2 hour long lectures where student perform some of their own vocal selections were facilitated feedback is given from the students to each other. This proved to be enormous success, with students learning to cope with performance anxiety as well as gaining confidence in their individual ability. Choral Class: 4 hour and half lectures per week, working with junior and senior groups. All songs were selected and arranged according to the level of the group. Beside the learning of singing in a group, I also included the understanding group dynamics, reading of sheet music and learning of harmonies, In line with industry requirements and methods. TUTORIALS: Every musical theatre student was given a one-on-one session where we focused on the individual and their sound – working in combination of using sound technique and acting to gain the correct emotional pitch for each song chosen, as well as learning to perform the song at a professional level. Show less



Freelance

• Musical Director

  • 2008 - 2014

  Musical Director Credits: The Yellowwood (Grahamstown Arts Festival), Chef, Rattle ‘n Roll (Gold Reef City), Homegrown (Gold Reef City), African Adventure (Joburg Fringe, Naledi Award: Best Children's Theatre Production), Pop Quiz (Gold Reef City), Rocky Horror Picture Show (Barnyard), resident musical director People’s Theatre 2009 -2011, Little Poof (Space.com)

• Performing Artist

  • 2007 - 2013

  Stage Credits: The Sound of Music (Pretoria State Theatre), Hairspray (Lyric Theatre), Rocky Horror Picture Show (Barnyard), various People’s Theatre productions, Little Poof (touring), High School Musical (China, Hong Kong and Taiwan)