Solstice Vocal Arts is a premier voice studio in Anchorage, specializing in vocal cross-training. We offer individualized and group voice lessons and vocal coaching for singers ages 7 & up, beginning to advanced. With over 15 years of experience, we are dedicated to helping you achieve more confidence, foster your love of singing and music, and working through the barriers that have surrounded you in your musical journey!
At Solstice Vocal Arts, we are interested in developing the entire singer, not just the voice! We teach vocal cross-training - that is, we train the entire artist by studying the body, the mind, and ALL the genres of music. There is no genre of music that is off limits! Yes! Even rap! (p.s. Christine is a closet rapper herself!)
At Solstice Vocal Arts, we are interested in developing the entire singer, not just the voice! We teach vocal cross-training - that is, we train the entire artist by studying the body, the mind, and ALL the genres of music. There is no genre of music that is off limits! Yes! Even rap! (p.s. Christine is a closet rapper herself!)
Christine Renee Keene, Owner/Voice & Piano Instructor
(Music Theatre, CCM (pop/rock/folk/etc), Jazz, Classical, Ukulele, Group Voice Classes)
When Christine was a small girl, she remembers watching Katarina Witt figure skate in the 1988 Olympics. Katarina had a program choreographed to Bizet's classic opera "Carmen". She didn't know anything about "Carmen" at the time, she just loved the passion and drama and story that Katarina so masterfully brought to life. In any case, Christine continued on her journey to follow Katarina by figure skating competitively for over 12 years. In her junior year of high school, her family moved to a new city that didn't have an ice rink and she was forced to end her skating career.
However...maybe she missed the message in that 1988 epic Olympic skate...
Even though Christine came from a musical family and she always sang and played piano in school and church, it wasn't her main focus. That junior year in the new school brought a touring production of "Carmen" - which coincidentally, was her very first experience with opera. She began to start to connect the dots, "Hmmm...maybe I was supposed to be a singer and not a skater...?" And the music bug bit her...
Christine has been making music for over 35 years in all kinds of ways. Just like Katarina, she loves bringing out the story in the music. She has a passion for performing and acting and is known for her delightful stage presence and infectious positivity. She brings that positivity into every aspect of lessons. Whether talking about music theory, delving into the poetry of a song, sight-singing (...the most boring thing on the planet, right?), or learning to speak and sing in a foreign language, she finds the fun in the fracas!
She also believes in hard work and doing your best. In fact, she has it written down in her studio! "Set goals. Demolish them." She doesn't let students give up easily and pushes them to achieve THEIR goals. She believes in the power of taking risks and experiencing new things and prides herself on creating a safe space in the studio to take those risks and try those new things!
However...maybe she missed the message in that 1988 epic Olympic skate...
Even though Christine came from a musical family and she always sang and played piano in school and church, it wasn't her main focus. That junior year in the new school brought a touring production of "Carmen" - which coincidentally, was her very first experience with opera. She began to start to connect the dots, "Hmmm...maybe I was supposed to be a singer and not a skater...?" And the music bug bit her...
Christine has been making music for over 35 years in all kinds of ways. Just like Katarina, she loves bringing out the story in the music. She has a passion for performing and acting and is known for her delightful stage presence and infectious positivity. She brings that positivity into every aspect of lessons. Whether talking about music theory, delving into the poetry of a song, sight-singing (...the most boring thing on the planet, right?), or learning to speak and sing in a foreign language, she finds the fun in the fracas!
She also believes in hard work and doing your best. In fact, she has it written down in her studio! "Set goals. Demolish them." She doesn't let students give up easily and pushes them to achieve THEIR goals. She believes in the power of taking risks and experiencing new things and prides herself on creating a safe space in the studio to take those risks and try those new things!
Christine is also passionate about helping people fall in love with their voice. She gets it. She's had the peoples tell her all their not-so-lovely thoughts and opinions about her own voice (ahem...didn't ask, thank you very much!). Christine believes everyone CAN sing and SHOULD sing! She lives by the motto "Your voice is your soul" and you have to let your voice (soul) shine! She's heard a lot of voices in her career, but her favorite voices by far are the voices of her students.
Christine received a BM and MM in Voice Performance. She is the current Webmaster and a past president/treasurer/secretary/vice president/auditions coordinator of the NATS Alaska Chapter (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and has worked as an Adjunct Professor of Voice at the University of Alaska. She is also on the board of the Alaska Theatre of Youth and is a member of The Speakeasy Cooperative for Independent Voice Teachers.
Christine is also a sought out adjudicator and has been honored to adjudicate NATS National, Regional and Local auditions, Solo & Ensemble Festivals, the Distinguished Young Women's Program, Bel Canto Alaska, Anchorage Concert Chorus Competition and the Hal Leonard National Online Competition. She has also been a guest on "The Full Voice" podcast with Nikki Loney.
Christine is currently having a blast making reels and posts on her Instagram channel @solsticevocalarts!
If you're interested in more of the juicy details about Christine's performance history and achievements, just ask her!
Christine received a BM and MM in Voice Performance. She is the current Webmaster and a past president/treasurer/secretary/vice president/auditions coordinator of the NATS Alaska Chapter (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and has worked as an Adjunct Professor of Voice at the University of Alaska. She is also on the board of the Alaska Theatre of Youth and is a member of The Speakeasy Cooperative for Independent Voice Teachers.
Christine is also a sought out adjudicator and has been honored to adjudicate NATS National, Regional and Local auditions, Solo & Ensemble Festivals, the Distinguished Young Women's Program, Bel Canto Alaska, Anchorage Concert Chorus Competition and the Hal Leonard National Online Competition. She has also been a guest on "The Full Voice" podcast with Nikki Loney.
Christine is currently having a blast making reels and posts on her Instagram channel @solsticevocalarts!
If you're interested in more of the juicy details about Christine's performance history and achievements, just ask her!
Patricia Rose, Associate Voice Instructor
(CCM (pop/rock/folk/etc.), Music Theatre, Jazz, Classical)
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Born and raised in Alaska, soprano Patricia Rose has placed in many competitions including: 1st place in the NATS Classical Competition Advanced Aritist Category (2020-2022); 1st place in the NATS Musical Theater Adult Category (2020); 2nd place in the NATS Musical Theater Adult Category (2019); 3rd place in the NATS Classical Competition Adult Category (2018-2019); 3rd place in the NATS Musical Theater Competition Adult Category (2017-2018); and 3rd place in the NATS Artist Awards Competition that was located in Seattle, Washington. She has also dipped her toes in the musical theater community playing as Princess Badroulbadour from Disenchanted (2018) and sang in the pit crew for West Side Story (2019), but she plans to become more involved in the future!
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Patricia has always loved singing as a kid and joined choirs in both church and school in order to always be involved in music. When she wanted to improve, she began to take voice lessons with her high school music teacher, Janna Leight and joined the Alaska All-State Choir for 2008-2010. In 2010, she left Alaska and was able to join the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Glee Club and absolutely fell in love with the camaraderie of working together to create acapella music. Patricia returned to Alaska back in 2013 and transferred to UAA where she joined the Glee Club at UAA. After some time, she was honored to become the Glee Club Director, and had a blast creating shows which included many genres (musical theater, pop, rock, kpop, etc….) with her friends! This influenced her to finally get a Bachelor’s of Music (Music Education) Degree in 2021.
She is now studying more about her voice from David Dunlap, her music teacher from her college years.
Patricia Rose loves the connection one forms when sharing the joy of music with others. She loves not only the performing aspect, but also the learning process. Understanding your instrument, and figuring how to improve is an amazing experience, and she hopes to connect with those who are interested (or those who just love music) and enjoy this musical process together!
She is now studying more about her voice from David Dunlap, her music teacher from her college years.
Patricia Rose loves the connection one forms when sharing the joy of music with others. She loves not only the performing aspect, but also the learning process. Understanding your instrument, and figuring how to improve is an amazing experience, and she hopes to connect with those who are interested (or those who just love music) and enjoy this musical process together!