Testimonials for Deborah Miles-Johnson

Deborah is a joy to work with, sparky, funny, demanding, encouraging and even (if need be) patient. The reason she is so effective in front of choirs is that besides her great gifts as a vocal coach she is a born collaborator. Her understanding of what hard-pressed singers and conductors need comes from personal experience as both. The points she makes arise naturally out of the concern of the moment, and she tempers brilliantly what she does according to the difficulty of the programme, the stress level and the lateness of the hour. She finds new solutions to old problems and old solutions, always freshly expressed, to new ones. She even knows when to shut up. The BBC Symphony Chorus and I have done many things with Deborah that we wouldn't have contemplated without her.

Stephen Jackson (Director, BBC Symphony Chorus)

Debbie brings knowledge and enthusiasm to her vocal technique sessions. Everybody in the room benefits from her ability to communicate her ideas and in so doing improve their singing at a stroke.

Robert Dean (Former Musical Director, Philharmonia Chorus)

T he more I work with amateur singers, the more I become convinced that the limitations we conductors come up against are best resolved through our choirs developing a better understanding of vocal technique. Issues of poor blend or intonation; compromised beauty of tone or legato; boring fortes and pianissimos; and any shortage of vocal colour, text, drama or communication, are all sorted most quickly by dealing with the technical problem underlying the issue. They are also then less likely to recur.

Deborah has a rare gift for communicating basic technique clearly and precisely. She explains technical terms often discussed but rarely understood, and develops mental images to which I can refer in the weeks following. She does this in an effortlessly engaging way which leaves the singers enthused and enthralled. Above all, she does this in the context of, and in the service of, the music. And of course, she can demonstrate to the sopranos and altos what I can only hint at!

Duncan Aspden (Musical Director, St Peter's Singers www.stpeterssingers.org
Musical Director, Thame Chamber Choir www.thamechamberchoir.org
Director of Music, City of Oxford Choir www.cityofoxfordchoir.org.uk)

 

I can’t recommend Deborah’s work and abilities highly-enough. When she came to direct a workshop with my choral society, The Weald Choir in Crawley, recently, they were first-of-all fascinated to hear about what life and work are like as a professional singer, then thrilled to discover that some of the basics of vocal technique could be acquired so simply, and finally astonished to see what an immediate difference these made to their singing. Debbie made the whole day enormous fun, as well as highly informative, and has made a major impression on the whole choir.

Michael Emery (Conductor, The Weald Choir, and Producer BBC Singers)

 

Deborah Miles Johnson has been involved in two workshop days with St Albans Bach Choir, dealing with all aspects of singing for the adult amateur chorister, and in particular sight-singing. The choir have found these to be of immense value, giving them extra skills and insight, and a corresponding amount of confidence. The feedback I get from the choir is all extremely positive and the effect on their singing is palpable. They and I are very keen to have more of these experiences with Deborah.

Andrew Lucas (Music Director, St Albans Bach Choir)

 

Debbie has a warm, engaging personality making the learning experience most enjoyable. She is tremendously enthusiastic and a great enabler, inspiring confidence and genuine improvement particularly in the techniques of voice production. As a workshop leader she is quite inspirational.

Bob Hawkes (Chairman, St Albans Bach Choir)

 

I  have had so much positive feedback that I don't know where to begin. The ladies especially enjoyed working with someone who really understands the female voice. In fact lots of singers said how much they valued working with a actual singer - it is quite a different perspective from the one offered by many a conductor. After the first hour everyone seemed to feel that they sang better, but most important, you turned a piece which has been quite hard work into something we began to feel we could manage, and could actually perform with some sense of the occasion and fun. Your warm approach meant everyone felt they learned something and improved so thank you for that.

From Alison Dalal, St Matthew’s Choir, London W5

 

Praise for your work with the singers continues to be voiced. Everyone who has spoken to me or sent e-mail messages has expressed how much they enjoyed the session. One of my choristers last night explained how satisfying it was to have vocal matters discussed in terms which amateur singers could understand. No one was talked down to, a sensible choice of music was well used to demonstrate typical choral challenges and useful vocal modelling was offered. Basic physical issues (such as posture, sitting and standing) were not ignored and a positive atmosphere was created throughout with much humour among the many bons mots! One singer e-mailed me to say how the time had flown for him. Another - a young blind tenor who is a real enthusiast - e-mailed to express surprise that we had been able to call on the services of such an eminent expert.

Derek Beck/Winchester & County Music Festival.

A million thanks for the workshop this week. The members of the choir I have seen since have been unanimous in singing it, and your, praises. I am sure this will guarantee a good turnout for your next workshop which we must organise soon.

Chris Gardner. Alton

I'd like to thank you for an inspirational Sunday afternoon workshop. It took a huge amount of will-power to sacrifice my lunchtime G&T, bottle of claret, roast beef and Yorkshire puddings and to cap it all, a Six Nations Rugby match, but I have to say it was worth every minute. I didn't even think about anything other than trying to improve my singing under your marvellous guidance.

Val, NHGS Hitchin

A very quick note just to say a huge 'thank you' for a brilliant day – it was very helpful, enjoyable, inspiring and constructive. What a magnificent teacher you secured in Deborah M-J - she was perfect!

I thought it was an excellent day of discovery and use of the voice, given by such an outstanding performer and teacher.

Even though I am sure you have had loads of fabulous feedback from the workshop, I just wanted to say I absolutely loved the day on Saturday. I was thinking that it might have been a bit of a long slog, but must say that Deborah's mixture of demonstration, practice and brilliant anecdotes made the day fly past.

Members of Southampton Philharmonic Choir who attended a session on 29th September 2009

I can do it! After a lifetime of choral singing and music teaching I learnt in a morning with Debbie just how it is done. Her lovely voice and amazing understanding of the technique required as an amateur choral singer convinced us all. The choir sound was transformed and my singing will certainly never be the same again! Thanks Debbie.

ChoralClinic Workshop attendee March 2011

I am sure that you will all agree that Deborah was a wonderfully 'accessible' singing tutor. I learned an enormous amount from her splendidly clear instruction, which was imparted with great good humour and all-round encouragement. Somehow, she cheerfully avoided any negative comment and was always positive about the technical points that she was trying to explain. Brilliant!
Many said how well she dealt with the youngsters, never talking down to them and giving them real encouragement. From where I was at the back, the difference she made to their sound by just correcting one vowel sound was absolutely amazing!

John, Chairman of the Winkleigh Singers, Devon. June 2011