Voice Professor
THE VOICE RETREAT Founder and CEO
Sissy Castrogiovanni's musical roots are in the rhythms, colors and flavors of her native Sicily, and radiate outward in a unique blend of African and Mediterranean influences. Her synthesis of post-bop jazz harmony and intoxicating ear for melody — all sung in her Sicilian dialect — create a truly singular voice in jazz, which made her gain the role of Sicilian-Jazz Ambassador.
As an award-winning singer, composer and producer, Sissy has toured Europe, the United States and South America, collaborating along the way with luminaries like Bobby McFerrin, drummer Jack DeJohnette, Latin Grammy-winning producer Javier Limon, and legendary vocalist Patrice Rushen, among others.
Influential publications such as Downbeat and Jazziz Magazine have praised Sissy's expressive, emotional live show, her versatility and and her rare vocal control and extension, talents she applies also at Berklee College of Music, where she is on the faculty as an Assistant Professor of Voice.
Official Website
www.sissycastrogiovanni.com
Voice Professor
Founding member of Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra
Joey Blake is a vocalist with an unmistakable style, fluid as it is unique, full of surprises and delivered with masterful grace. His instrument-like approach to the voice gives him a musical vocabulary heard only in the rarest of singers. He is one of the founding and current members of Voicestra, the a cappella ensemble created by Bobby McFerrin. He was also a founding member of Sovoso the group that spun from Voicestra.
Joey is currently on the faculty of Berklee College of Music in Boston, as an Associate Professor in the Voice Department.
His discography includes recordings with Bobby McFerrin , Kenny Loggins , Mickey Hart, We Be 3 and Sovoso to name a few. Joey also has six self produced solo recordings, “ The Many Shades of me “ being the latest!
Joey believes that we as artists, can be the model of what is possible in the world. Functioning as an international community of people working together for one purpose, global unity!
Official Website
www.n1m.com/joeyblake
Voice Professor
Voice & Pletenitsa Founder
Trauma-informed Practitioner & Educator
Born and raised in war-torn Beirut, Lebanon, Christiane’s unique vocal style stems from her love for different musical traditions. She is the leader and founder of the award-winning ZilZALA Ensemble, which blends classical, traditional, and folk music from different regions of the Middle East and the Balkans with contemporary jazz. She is also the leader of the acclaimed Pletenitsa Balkan Choir. She has had the privilege of sharing the stage with the likes of Yanka Rupkina, Hüsnü Senlendirici, Javier Limon, the NY Gypsy All-Stars, the Assad Brothers, Javier Limon and Bobby McFerrin.
In addition to performing, Christiane is an award-winning songwriter (the USA Songwriting Competition, SESAC, The John Lennon Songwriting contest, and more recently several nominations by the Independent Music Awards) and film composer.
Currently on the faculty of Berklee College of Music, as an Associate Professor in Voice, Ensemble and Songwriting, she is the founder and leader of the Berklee Annual Middle Eastern Festival, and actively continues her work of bringing awareness and Positive Social Change through music and the arts.
Official Website
www.christianekaram.com
Voice Professor
AFAM academic, and Estill Voice Training Master Trainer
Singer, composer, educator. Stefania's work mostly took shape through the study of jazz and folk music, which developed over the years into the creation of her own original style; a style which aims to combine the roots of traditional jazz with contemporary forms of vocal phrasing and expressions.
She has a degree in Medicine and Surgery (1998) and a master degree in Jazz (2010) and she is also certified “Estill Master Trainer” (2005) of the “Estill Voice Training”, set up by renowned researcher Jo Estill.
From 1999 to present she performs in Italy and around the world in world music and jazz festivals, theatre and venues, with different projects, often as leader, collaborating with numerous musicians that are renowned in the jazz and world music scene, like Javier Girotto, Alredo Paixao, Seby Burgio, Andrea Rea, Aldo Farias, Max Ionata and many others.
She intensely works as voice teacher, and she currently is Canto Jazz Professor at "Luigi Canepa" Conservatory in Sassari, Italy; She also conducts workshops and presentations in Italy and around the world and she has collaborated with international vocal improvisation teachers like Bob Stoloff, Joey Blake and Roger Treece.
Official Website
www.stefaniapatane.com
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THE VOICE RETREAT™ it is not a Berklee-sponsored program and maintains no affiliation with Berklee College of Music in any capacity.
