Chris Citera

Background

About Chris Citera

Chris Citera is an NYC-based actor, singer, and voice teacher. He graduated from Ithaca College, summa cum laude with a bachelor of music degree in voice and acting, a specialized degree requiring advanced coursework in acting technique in addition to the complete curriculum required to receive a vocal performance degree. As an actor, he has trained extensively at the Michael Howard Studios and The Barrow Group. He received his Master of Arts (M.A) degree in vocal pedagogy and music education in from Teachers College, Columbia University. Additionally, he holds a Distinguished Voice Professional Certificate through the New York Singing Teachers Association (NYSTA) for successful completion of their professional development coursework. He is currently pursuing an advanced Masters of Education (Ed.M) from Teachers College in music and music education with a focus in adult education and educational leadership. In addition to maintaining a private studio of professional singers, Chris currently serves as the Head of Voice and Music at CAP21/Molloy College and is an Adjunct Professor of Voice in the BFA Musical Theater program at Pace University and in the BM Vocal Performance program at NYU. Additionally, he has taught on faculty in the BFA Musical Theater programs at the University of Texas Arlington, and at Teachers College, Columbia University. From 2018-2021 Chris served as the Assistant Director the Singers’ Workshops @ Teachers College, a group designed to help young singers build confidence as they navigate their developing voices to prepare for a lifetime of singing. He is also part of the core faculty at BroadwayEvolved, a training intensive for students and educators founded by Broadway star, Betsy Wolfe. A lifelong learner and self-professed voice “nerd,” Chris has been mentored and supervised by voice specialists, Dr. Jeanne Goffi-Fynn and Richard Lissemore at Columbia University. He has participated in the NATS NYC Mentor Teacher Program, where he had the opportunity to work with and learn from notable musical theater pedagogues, such as Mary Saunders-Barton. He has continued his education at the Singing Voice Science and Pedagogy Workshop, The Vocal Pedagogy Professional Workshop (Boston Conservatory), and The New CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute (Shenandoah University). As an educator, Chris believes in a student-centered approach to teaching and strives to honor the diversity that each student brings into the voice studio by prioritizing critical thinking, student agency, and creativity and problem solving in the voice studio.