about myself
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 Listen to my audio welcome!
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| Background: |
 Cynthia has been in demand as a performer, voice instructor, conductor, public speaker, music researcher, and adjudicator.
Cynthia's performance credits include roles in operas and musical theater throughout Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Ohio.
To her credit are numerous recitals, performances, and church positions as well as performing world premiere works throughout the east coast.
Not only does Cynthia instruct at her studio but is the artist in residence at Scituate High School. She also teaches voice at, Pilgrim, Warwick Veterans Memorial, and Ponaganset High Schools. She also offers master classes to local middle and high schools to improve the quality of the choral sound.
Cynthia not only teaches voice and piano but she has held elementary, middle school, high school music, and college positions in Connecticut and Rhode Island.She also enjoyed working as choral director for church and mixed choruses. Cynthia is the former director of the Rhode Island Touring Ensemble ( 2005-2009), a four-part mixed adult ensemble which toured the area performing in weddings, festivals and concerts especially three holiday concerts at Belcourt Castle in Newport,RI every Sunday in December until 2008.
She is high demand as a judge for Rhode Island and Massachusetts All-State competitions, Solo and Ensemble competitions, RINATS Song Festival, and local civic music auditions.
Cynthia also researches and edits musical texts and books. Most recently she provided research support to University of Rhode Island music scholar, Carolyn Livingston, Ph.D for her book entitled " Charles Faulkner Bryan--His Life and Music" published by University of Tennessee Press ( 2003).
Cynthia has taught public speaking and music education courses on the college level. She is also a multi-cultural music expert. |
| Qualifications: |
Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Baldwin-Wallace College and Master of Music degree in Voice from the New England Conservatory of Music.
Public School Teacher Certification Program completion at the University of Rhode Island.
Vocal studies with the laste Sophie Ginn-Paster ( Baldwin-Wallace College), Mark Pearson (New England Conservatory of Music), Rene de la Garza ( private lessons), and the late Eleanor Steber( New York City) of Metropolitan Opera fame.
Cynthia studied Speech Pathology at the Worchester (MA) State College,University of Rhode Island., Vocal therapy concentration with Dr. Robert Beaupre, CCC formerly of URI, Bill Tobin,M.S.,CCC in Private Practice, and Dr. Leon Thurman, Ed.D who is presently at Fairview Voice Center University of Minnesota Medical Center,
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Cynthia is always learning. She has attended numerous workshops sponsored by NATS to continue with her pedagogical studies. July 2007 Cynthia attended a NATS conference in Newport, RI for a three day workshop intitled: " Tools for Singers". Faculty for this event were Robert Edwin, Babette Lightner, Scott McCoy, and Eileen Strempel. Some other summers you can find Cynthia at Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford studying the latest in music education. |
| Associations: |
National Association of Teachers of Singing, Rhode Island Music Educators' Association, Music Educators National Conference. |
| Testimonials: |
"When a parent finds a teacher or mentor to entrust their child's well being to, it's like magic: a great teacher at school who will expand your child's horizons and inspire them to make leaps and bounds in their hearts and minds or a lifelong associate who can be trusted to be by your child's side through the best and worst of times.
Mrs. Robinshaw is a teacher and mentor who has gently guided our daughter to musical heights that we never dreamed possible. Instilling a quiet confidence in her and an ability to expand her musical horizons, Mrs. Robinshaw has guided our daughter to fully embrace the possibilities and the realities that she is an artist -- a singer who is gifted and who can capably touch upon all musical genres -- from 1930s vocals to gently moving operatic performances to the most contemporary and hard rocking songs.
We always felt that our daughter's voice had great potential. We had friends whose daughter was a student of Cynthia's who highly recommended her. Immediately, she and Mrs. Robinshaw connected. She has a way of pinpointing the talent in her students and challenging them to do their best. It would be evident from listening to my daughter and all students of Mrs. Robinshaw that the difference has been the training, the mentoring, and the wonderful experiences that these students have had under her tutelage. She is wonderful and you should consider bringing your child or you (if the spirit and the music move you!) to meet with Mrs. Robinshaw and get a sense of the magic that she can offer to you and your family. As an added beneifit and in addition to her talent at teaching music, you will find a wonderful spirit, an energy and postivity that she will share and will inspire you, and a kindness that is moving and always heartfelt."
Irene & Dennis Sidoti
Chepachet, RI 2010
"During my seventeen years as the chorus director at Ponaganset High School, I have had the opportunity to enlist several private voice teachers who would come to the school to offer lessons to my students: mostly after school. Cynthia Robinshaw has a masters degree in voice from NEC, and studied voice therapy. Cynthia is one of the most delightful people I have had the pleasure to know. She has a bubbly personality and is refreshingly full of energy. Any time I saw or heard Cynthia giving a voice lesson, she was actively engaged with her work. She gets a lot out of my students because she puts so much into it. She presents voice study in a way that makes it interesting and approachable. Many of my students sign up to study with her because of the reputation she has developed at Ponaganset. The kids fondly say, “She’s different!” but they learn so much from her that the proof has been in their performances as vocalists. She is not afraid to take on work and approaches it with great zest. I have found her to be dependable and dedicated to her students. She is happy to support the choral work I do and has assisted students with all-state, solo and ensemble, solos for our school concerts or church functions. Several of my students who study with Mrs. Robinshaw have entered solo divisions in the festival/competitions we have attended and they always receive trophies for outstanding work. Recently, she prepared some of my students to participate in the National Association of Teachers of Singing recital/competition. Right now, many of the students are preparing for the recital Mrs. Robinshaw will soon be hosting. Without reservation I recommend Cynthia Robinshaw to anyone who wants to study voice privately. She has my deepest respect both professionally and personally."
Beverly Tinkham
Music Department Chair
Ponanganset High School (2007)
" Cynthia Robinshaw has been a real asset to the Scituate Middle and High School chorus program in her capacity as a private voice instructor. Our students have flourished as performers under her guidance by gaining
confidence and self-esteem. Many have been selected to All-State ensembles and excelled in other performance endeavors, such as Solo and Ensemble Festival. Cynthia is truly commited to her students' success and I recommend her highly!"
Christine Johnston
Chorus Director
Scituate Middle/High School (2007)
"My name is Jenna Tremblay and I study with Cynthia Robinshaw. I Graduated Rhode Island College in 2006 with a major in theatre. My concentration was in musical theatre. I had the privledge of studying with some very talented voice teachers, but until recently I had never found the "right" fit. That "right" fit has been Cynthia Robinshaw. I actually found her on the NATS website and wrote to her to try to set up a voice lesson. I immediately liked her and found her to be quite an asset to my vocal health after developing nodes to poor speaking habits. She has been persisent in her progress of my vocal health. Not only is she talented and amazing specific in her craft, but she keeps very up to date with new techniques and exercises. Cynthia has helped me so very much and each week my voice is getting better and recovering. She has even opened me up to sing classically for better technique! Who knew? It is very clear that Cynthia Robinshaw breaths, lives and loves what she does and that is why I am proud to have her as my voice teacher. We share a common bond that we love what we do! Why else would I commute one hour and 20 minutes to see her every week?"
Jenna Tremblay, 2007
"I have been acquainted with Ms. Robinshaw for the many years through her association with my son as voice teacher and a guest lecturer for a graduate class for which I was an instructor. I have had to opportunity to observe her deliver individual, small group and large group instruction to elementary, middle school and adult students....Ms. Robinshaw focuses in on the unique developmental characteristics of the student(s) she is teaching, making even the most complicated musical concept easily understandable through her ability to tailor instruction to the students with whom she is working....Ms. Robinshaw is capable of motivating her students to high levels of accomplishment. The combination of excellent teaching skills, a high energy level, unflagging enthusiasm, and musical expertise ia a wonderful combination...." Dr. Gail Lawson, Foster, RI. (2002)
"Cynthia has been my teacher for at least 9 years . She is a wonderful teacher and has pushed me to excel in my craft. With her training, I have won several contests including the 2002 NYC Finals for Talent America and was recognized as the Best Legitimate Male Vocalist for that competition as well. Other honors have included my placing as a finalist in the TCT International Competition for male vocalists. The training has also provided me the opportunities to earn leading roles in such shows as The King and I , The Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls, and many more. Over the years we have worked on everything from Classical to Current Contemporary. Cynthia is a teacher that will always push you to do more and for that I thank her. For more information, please contact me through my website www.gregbonin.com".
Greg Bonin, Student
University of Rhode Island
Department of Music 2005
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| References: |
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| Hobbies: |
Cynthia has acted in the capacity of educational mentor to students from elementary through high school since the year 2000 and works with students in their senior projects for graduation requirements.Cynthia is active in community service, utilizing her skills as a teacher, adjudicator, and performer.
She and her husband enjoy life as international adoptive parents and mentor other couples who are going through the process of adoption themselves.
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| Student Successes: |
Readers, please note the following: Although student successes are numerous, Cynthia has chosen to respect the privacy of any minors as well as present and former students who have not given permission for their names to appear on her web page. We are sure you will understand her concerns about internet usage. Thank you.
About Cynthia's Successes:
Cynthia has taught singing to two Miss America contestants from Rhode Island ( D. Potter. and Joanne V.)
One of her Tenors went on to sing at Disney World, Florida ( B. Frederickson).
One of Cynthia's adult Baritones won first place in the Talent America Contest in New York in 2002(www.gregbonin.com).He performed in musical theater and received a full scholarship to the University of Rhode Island in Voice.
A Ponaganset High School senior, N. Lawson (2002) has scored as the Number One Tenor in the Rhode Island All-State auditions for all four high school years!
A Scituate High School Senior ( J. Tirocchi, mezzo-soprano, graduated: 2006) had scored the number one alto in Rhode Island All-State since her freshman year! She also performed solo for All-State in 2004, and 2006. P. Gilson, (Ponaganset High School, Graduated: 2004) also performed as soloist his senior year at RI All-State.
Three students who graduated from high school in 2006 are majoring in music atcolleges or university in the fall. They are K.Musumeci to Liberty University, VA, J. Lusignan to University of Rhode Island, J. Tirocchi, to Providence College( RI) . One student, J. Colan, is attending Rhode Island College in theater and minoring in music.
Many former students majored in musical theater in college or conservatory. One such Soprano,R. Amylon has graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City. She lives and performs in New York.
Former students have also attended New England Conservatory of music, Boston Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College,Hartt College of Music at the University of Hartford, Williams College, Syracuse University, Wagner College, Oberlin College, the University of New Hampshire, University of Connecticut, and the University of Massachusetts to name a few.
Some former students are even music teachers themselves throughout New England!
Numerous students have performed in the Connecticut and Rhode Island All-State Choruses, All-New England Chorus, All-Eastern Chorus,and several students have performed internationally in reknowned national choruses.
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| Other Info: |
Cynthia retains a professional affiliation with Speech Language Pathologist Bill Tobin, MS, CCC and she also is sent students from ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) physicians in regard to assisting in better vocal hygeine.
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