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Monday 2pm - 9pm Tuesday 2pm - 9pm Wednesday 2pm - 9pm Thursday 2pm - 9pm Friday 3pm - 9pm Saturday 9am - 2pm

Higher Voice Studio

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United States
Carnegie, PA
Higher Voice Studio

Where everyone (yes, everyone!) can learn to sing, play an instrument, & set their musical voice free

Founded by Hilerie Klein Rensi in 2011, Higher Voice Studio has quickly become the most sought after music school in the regional Pittsburgh Area. Their award winning building in beautiful downtown Carnegie offers voice, piano and guitar lessons, open-mic nights, a performance venue, classes and workshops for all.

09/02/2026

To dream the impossible dream is to believe that the world can be better than it is.

The Strand Theater presents Man of La Mancha, featuring Higher Voice Studio's own Carmen LoPresti and Matty Thornton!

Inspired by Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote, this timeless musical follows the unforgettable journey of a man who refuses to see the world simply as it is, choosing instead to imagine what it could be. Filled with soaring music, powerful storytelling, and one of musical theatre's most iconic anthems, Man of La Mancha is a stirring celebration of courage, hope, and the power of a dream.

⭐ Featuring Carmen LoPresti
⭐ Featuring Matty Thornton

📅 Performances:
• September 11 at 7:00 PM
• September 12 at 7:00 PM
• September 13 at 2:00 PM
• September 17 at 7:00 PM
• September 18 at 7:00 PM
• September 19 at 7:00 PM
• September 20 at 2:00 PM

📍 The Strand Theater

🎟️ Tickets and more information can be found at:
The Strand Theater

Join us in celebrating Carmen, Matty, and the entire company as they bring this beloved classic to life on stage.

Because sometimes the impossible dream is the one worth chasing. ✨

09/01/2026

🎬🎤 OPEN MIC NIGHT: MOVIES & SOUNDTRACKS 🍿🎶

Cue the dramatic lighting. Roll the opening credits.
Our next Open Mic Night is taking a trip to the movies on September 11th from 6:30–9:00 PM with a theme dedicated to Movies & Soundtracks!

Bring us the songs that made the credits roll, the scenes unforgettable, and your childhood bedroom feel like a full-scale concert venue. Whether you're channeling your inner movie musical star, delivering an epic power ballad, or performing a song that absolutely did not need to go that hard for an animated film, we want to hear it!

Expect:
🎞️ Cinematic drama
🎵 Iconic soundtracks
🍿 Main character energy
🏆 Performances worthy of at least one imaginary Oscar

🎬 September 11 | 6:30–9:00 PM 🎤

Grab the mic. Take your mark. And remember: in this studio, everyone gets a sequel.

08/31/2026

You knew Tim Curry. Whether or not you know it, you knew Tim Curry.

He was an iconic character actor, a Broadway star, a voice that could send a shiver down your spine, and a face behind some of the most unforgettable characters in film and theater. From terrifying villains to outrageous eccentrics, Tim Curry had a remarkable ability to make every role entirely his own.

But beyond the legendary performances was a personality filled with warmth, mischief, kindness, and an unmistakable sense of humor. He brought joy wherever he went, possessing that rare ability to be hilariously funny while making the people around him feel genuinely seen.

Tim Curry didn't simply play characters. He created memories. And somewhere along the way, whether through a movie, a stage performance, a cartoon, or a wonderfully bizarre moment you still quote decades later, he became part of all of our stories.

You knew Tim Curry.

And what a joy that we did.

08/28/2026

❄️✨ Student Spotlight: Caris Tomaceski ✨❄️

Love is an open door, and it's all for the love of theatre! Caris Tomaceski stepped into the world of Arendelle as Anna in Frozen Jr. with Little Lake Theatre Company, bringing audiences two weeks of comedy, heartbreak, hope, and plenty of sisterly chaos.

One of the highlights was working alongside Addison, who played Elsa. Caris describes her as “such an incredible vocalist, with a voice that is pure, mature, and trained,” while also admiring her confidence as an actor.

“She always led with confidence and was confident in her choices, which helped me learn that I could come up for breath sometimes and not feel as unsure with myself.” Addison also helped Caris through moments of self-doubt. “She comforted me when I got in my head and led me to feeling collected and ready to share what I had to bring to the table.”

But Caris' biggest lesson was learning to give herself permission to grow.

“Committing fully to a character is extremely difficult for me. It usually takes me a few rehearsals to feel comfortable in the character’s skin.” And when things didn't immediately click? “I tend to think about what I will eat for dinner instead of how to save Arendelle.” 😂

Through the process, she learned, “I need to be softer on myself and understand I know it takes longer for me to commit to a new character and that is okay.”

What will she miss most? The audience and Anna's emotional range. “It was a lot of fun to play with comedy, heartbreak, hope, love in one pot!”

For Caris, the goal is creating a genuine reaction. “I know I did my job if people react vocally, physically, or even silently. You can just sense it on stage and I take a lot of pride in that.”

From saving Arendelle to occasionally thinking about dinner, Caris embraced every part of Anna's journey. 💙

08/26/2026

A light and true beacon of knowledge and hope for the world.

Dolly Rebecca Parton was born January 19th, 1946 in a one room cabin in Locust Ridge, Tennessee. She was the fourth of twelve children.

Over the next few weeks, months and even years, we will hear about all of the amazing gifts she had given to this world from her Imagination Library to the penning of countless songs. But Dolly is and was truly the greatest example of the human condition. From nothing, she had high aspirations. She achieved every goal through perseverance and through quiet study of art, marketing, business and communication. That's not to say that she had degrees in any of them (honoraries from Carson-Newman University and University of Tennessee, Knoxville) but was a student of the world. Dolly studied people. She knew what made them tick. But most importantly, she didn't weaponize it. She used it as a gift to see how to further all of us.

As a musician, Dolly opened so many doors for artists, specifically women and those in country music. However, it is her philanthropy, her non judgmental persona and her curiosity that led her to being the icon she became. No one more purely embodies the fictitious Walt Whitman quote made famous by Ted Lasso: "Be curious, not judgemental." We strive to be more curious. Thank, Dolly.

08/19/2026

Joe Atkinson believes your voice is more than an instrument. It's an extension of who you are.

His teaching is built on three simple ideas:
🎵 Music is personal. Every time you sing, you're sharing a piece of yourself.
🌎 Music connects us. Everyone is born with a voice, and everyone deserves to discover what makes theirs unique.
✨ Music should be fun. Growth happens best when learning is filled with joy, curiosity, and laughter.

Joe combines vocal science with plenty of humor, making complex techniques easy to understand without feeling like a biology lecture. His goal is simple: help every student build confidence, discover their authentic sound, and leave each lesson smiling.

We're so excited to have Joe on the Higher Voice Studio teaching team!

08/17/2026

Some stories remind us that, even in the darkest moments, kindness can bring us home.

Based on the remarkable true story of 7,000 airline passengers unexpectedly stranded in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, Come From Away is a celebration of compassion, resilience, and the extraordinary connections that can grow between complete strangers. Filled with soaring music, heartfelt storytelling, and moments of humor and hope, this award-winning musical is a powerful reminder of the very best of humanity.

⭐ Featuring Emily Palma as Beverly

📅 Performances:
• September 11 at 7:30 PM
• September 12 at 7:30 PM
• September 13 at 2:00 PM
• September 18 at 7:30 PM
• September 19 at 7:30 PM
• September 20 at 2:00 PM

🎟️ Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at:
https://www.monriverarts.org/shows

Join us in supporting Emily and the entire cast as they share this unforgettable story of hope, generosity, and the kindness that can change lives.

08/03/2026

🎤 Open Mic Night is back... and this month's theme is Gender Bent!

We all know that our true villian origin story is not being able to sing the song that we were MEANT to sing. (Not me, side eyeing Percy Jackson, JD and George Nowack) It's not fair. It's never fair. Well now, it's our night to shine!

So, join us for an evening where altos become Javert, tenors become Elphaba, sopranos become Orpheus, basses become Dolly Levi, and absolutely nothing is off limits except judging people's song choices.

📅 Friday, August 14
🕡 6:30 to 9:00 PM
📍 Higher Voice Studio

Bring a song. Bring your friends. Bring your dramatic flair. Leave your vocal stereotypes at the door.

Because great songs don't care who's singing them.

(And honestly... some of the best versions happen when the casting director says, "Why not?")

See you there for a night of laughter, creativity, and musical theatre chaos in the very best way. 🎭🎶

07/30/2026

🎶🌿 Performance Announcement 🌿🎶

If you're looking for the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon, don't miss Caley Pham performing on behalf of Fostering Music at the Fort Armstrong Folk Festival!

Come enjoy an afternoon of live music, community, and the rich traditions of folk music as Caley takes the South Stage on:

📍 Fort Armstrong Folk Festival
2019 N. Water Street
Kittanning, PA 16201

🗓️ Friday, July 31
🕐 1:00 PM
🎟️ Free Admission

Whether you're a longtime folk fan or just looking to discover something new, this is a wonderful opportunity to support live music and one of our talented performers.

Break a leg, Caley! We know you'll be fantastic! 💛

07/24/2026

Why does our owner and founder, Hilerie Klein Rensi, keep asking singers to sound like a Wookie? 🤔🎤

Because sometimes the weirdest exercises create the biggest breakthroughs.

The Wookie exercise encourages the soft palate to relax and lower, creating more room for the voice to resonate behind it. Instead of feeling like your sound is stuck in your throat, you begin to discover the natural space where your voice can ring more freely.

The result?

✨ Richer resonance.
✨ Less tension.
✨ A voice that feels easier to produce.

It may sound a little ridiculous at first, but that's the beauty of voice lessons. Sometimes sounding like a character from Star Wars is exactly what helps you stop overthinking and start letting your voice do what it was designed to do.

So if you hear Wookiee noises coming from the studio... don't panic.

That's just resonance finding its way home. Chewbacca would be proud. 🎶

Check out her page for more vocal technique!

Address

144 East Main Street
Carnegie, PA
15106

Opening Hours

Monday	2pm - 9pm
Tuesday	2pm - 9pm
Wednesday	2pm - 9pm
Thursday	2pm - 9pm
Friday	3pm - 9pm
Saturday	9am - 2pm

Telephone

(412) 429-1000

Website

http://www.highervoicestudio.com/

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