Our Journey:

From teacher/student to business partners

It all began in the winter if 2008. A 17-year old Chelsea auditioned for the musical theatre department at the University of Michigan. And who accompanied her on piano? Cynthia Kortman Westphal, who had been a professor at U of M for about four years at that point.

teamwork makes the dreamwork

Fast forward to 2021 after years of personal and professional growth, (you can read more about our experience below); Chelsea got a phone call that was both flattering (who me?) and life-changing (heck yes!). 

"Hey Chelsea, it's Cynthia... I've had this idea for a coaching membership and I think you're the perfect person to do it with me."

Cynthia Kortman Westphal

BVC CO-FOUNDER

Cynthia Kortman Westphal is a music director, voice teacher, vocal coach, and professor who is equally comfortable in both the professional Broadway community, and the academic world. 

Most recently, Cynthia music directed the first North American tour of COME FROM AWAY.  With her husband and two children in tow, she conducted over 400 performances in over 30 cities across the US and Canada.  Additional Broadway shows include: THE LION KING, (where she was an original company member, associate music director, conductor, and keyboard player for seven years), A CHRISTMAS STORY—THE MUSICAL (written by former students Benj Pasek and Justin Paul), THE GERSHWIN'S FASCINATING RHYTHM, and MISS SAIGON.

Regionally, she has music directed at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, where she was part of the very first all-female creative team in the history of that historic theatre.  Additional regional theatre work includes Randy Newman’s FAUST at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, as well as productions at Hartford Stage Company, and Arizona Theatre Company.

She toured as a pianist with opera singer Andrea Bocelli on two U.S. tours, and has been an orchestral pianist for many other orchestras including American Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, and EOS Orchestra.

As a local keyboard player, she has played for over a dozen Broadway national tours including: WICKED, SISTER ACT, IN THE HEIGHTS, SPAMALOT, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, The 25th Anniversary Tour of LES MISERABLES, PETER PAN with Cathy Rigby, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, THE KING AND I, and ANNIE.

Cynthia serves as chair of the University of Michigan’s prestigious musical theatre department where she teaches performance classes, works one-on-one with singers, and created a rock/pop vocal styles class. She is also a Certified Master Trainer in Estill Voice Training.  

While Cynthia wears many hats, she is passionate about working with singers—especially in helping them discover their ability to sing in the multitude of vocal styles that are happening today—and her current and former students can be seen in nearly every Broadway musical each season, as well as in regional theaters across the country, and in film and TV.  

Chelsea Wilson

BVC CO-FOUNDER

Chelsea Wilson is a voice teacher and vocal coach, providing unparalleled voice training to singers all over the world via online lessons. Her students have starred on Broadway and in Broadway national tours, have been featured in national commercials, and are pursuing independent musical careers in all genres.

Chelsea became the official associate vocal coach for the Broadway companies of SCHOOL OF ROCK in 2017, and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA in 2018. She was also the associate coach for the national and international tours of SCHOOL OF ROCK, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. She also had the pleasure of coaching for the off-Broadway production of ROCK OF AGES in 2020.

Chelsea graduated from the University of Michigan’s prestigious Musical Theatre Program, earning her BFA in 2012. Although she specializes in musical theatre, Chelsea is an expert in contemporary pop music and uses her strong background in technique to teach vocal skills in any style of music.

Chelsea began her voice teacher training in 2007 with Speech Level Singing. In 2013, she joined the newly formed Institute for Vocal Advancement, where she has since earned her Mentor-level certification after 10+ years of rigorous education. Chelsea has been able to travel the world (Seoul, Mexico City, Edinburgh, Vienna) teaching singers and voice teachers from all backgrounds. One of her greatest joys is helping to create “lightbulb moments” for her students, when they realize something is possible within themselves that they’d never imagined before.

After eight years living and working in New York City, in 2020 Chelsea found her way to to Wisconsin, then Washington State, and now North Carolina! She lives in Raleigh with her musical-theatre loving, piano-playing husband and her two young daughters. 

Erin Wilson

BVC STUDIO COACH

Erin Wilson grew up in Southern California, playing outside barefoot and in and out of the pool as much as possible. She eventually grew into a Broadway performer, TV/Film actor, Voice Specialist, Acting Coach, University Professor & owner of Erin Wilson Studio.

Erin has had the honor of performing on Broadway, in numerous National Tours and has worked for the Hallmark Channel, Netflix, TBS, TNT.

Erin studied Musical Theater at Brigham Young University then moved to NYC. Early on, she worked for many lovely theaters across the US before originating the role of Shen Shen and understudying Madame Morrible in the record-breaking show of Wicked (2nd National Tour). She went on to play Madame Morrible, the Midwife, and Shen Shen in all three Wicked US companies: 1st National, 2nd National, and Broadway! 

Some favorite roles include Sister Mary-Martin-of-Tours in the national tour of Sister Act and Sister Mary Patrick for NCT, The Witch in Into the Woods, Cha Cha in Grease (x's 3!), Dolly Tate in Annie Get Your Gun and every show at THE MUNY to name a few. TV/Film: Public Morals (TNT), directed by Edward Burns, Tales of the City (Netflix) with Laura Linney, Holiday for Heroes (Hallmark Channel), The Last OG with Tracy Morgan (TBS).

Erin is a certified voice teacher through the Institute for Vocal Advancement, as well as a professor in Theater and Music for Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University. And yet, as much as she loves performing and teaching, she is most obsessed with her role as Auntie Erin to her nieces and nephews!

Julie Kavanagh

BVC ASPIRE PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Julie Kavanagh is an NYC-based actress, singer, dancer, and arts educator, most recently seen as the Dance Captain and US for Miranda in the national tour of Mrs. Doubtfire, where she also performed as a member of the ensemble.

A St. Louis, MO native, Julie’s passion for singing and dancing ignited at a young age. She honed her craft and earned a BFA in Musical Theatre from the prestigious University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Julie’s career as a performer has taken her across the country, where she has toured with the Broadway First National Tours of Hello, Dolly! and La Cage aux Folles and performed at major regional theatres including The Old Globe, Goodspeed Opera House, Papermill Playhouse, Sacramento Music Circus, The Asolo Rep, Bucks County Playhouse, The Maltz Jupiter Theatre, and 15 summers at The MUNY! Julie has also appeared as Penny Pingleton in Hairspray, In Concert alongside John Waters with the Indianapolis and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras.

In addition to her performance career, Julie has been dedicated to arts education since 2014, serving as a college audition coach, director, choreographer, and teaching tap dance and musical theatre classes to aspiring young performers across the country.

Julie resides in New York City with her husband, where she continues to balance a career in professional performance with her passion for mentoring the next generation of artists.

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