Teaching Studios

Jon Lackey
Professor of Voice

Jon Lackey is an internationally-acclaimed performer and music educator. Professor Lackey is a master of the rarely-taught bel canto (“beautiful singing” in Italian), technique.

Whether training singers for choral or solo singing, Professor Lackey provides an enjoyable and effective learning experience. He works with adult students at all levels of vocal training and specializes in helping people overcome vocal production difficulties. His teaching also includes basic music fundamentals as well as song interpretation.

Professor Lackey is currently the Resident Vocal Coach for the 50-voice acclaimed choir, Cora Voce (coravoce.org). He works with this choir as an ensemble and also coaches individual choir members.

Mr. Lackey earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance on scholarship from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, and did graduate music studies at both the University of Washington in Seattle and at Kent State University in Akron, Ohio. He has also done advanced studies in Paris with master teacher, Gérard Souzay and in Munich with bel canto master, Ilse Metternich.

Professor Lackey has served on the music faculties of Northern Virginia College in Alexandria, Virginia; Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington; and the American College (WICE) in Paris, France.

---

To inquire about lessons in his Seattle studio, please contact Mr. Lackey at:
[email protected]
703.328.3230

---

“Tenor, Jon Lackey, sang with ease, power, and flexibility.”
— Joseph McClellan, The Washington Post —

“Jon Lackey: brilliant vocal temperament, dynamic, spiritual, and, our fortune, adorned with a voice of magnificent timbre.”
— Music Critic, Journal de Blois, Blois, France —

“With his rich and innocent tenor voice, Lackey holds his audience in a quiet trance … hardly a breath was taken by his listeners.”
— Music Critic, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands —

James Jelasic
Professor of Piano, International Steinway Artist & Fulbright Scholar

Professor Jelasic is a leading scholar of Chopin and a renowned teacher of piano performance. Working with students at all levels of musical training, Mr. Jelasic challenges and encourages them while providing an enjoyable learning experience.

Music critics around the world make mention of the exceptionally fine technique that Mr. Jelasic has mastered, a technique that he teaches his students from the very beginning of their work with him. In learning the unique and dynamic “Jelasic Technique,” pupils develop tension-free musicality and confidence in their piano performing. Professor Jelasic also emphasizes music theory in his lessons to provide his students with a well-rounded education.

Mr. Jelasic received his early musical training at the Detroit Institute of Musical Arts where he is recognized as one of their “Notable Alumni.” He earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance on full scholarship from Eastern Michigan University and his Master of Music degree in Accompanying and Chamber Music from the University of Michigan. He has also done post-graduate work at Kent State University in Ohio, and advanced studies at the Sorbonne in Paris and at Warwick University in Coventry, England. Mr. Jelasic's international master teachers include Albert Filmore at the Detroit Institute of Musical Arts, Michigan; Gordon Green of the Royal Academy of Music in London, England; Eugene Bossart in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Martin Katz in Boulder, Colorado and Akron, Ohio; and Leonard Hokenson in Augsburg, Germany.

Professor Jelasic has taught on the faculties of Northern Virginia College, Alexandria, Virginia, and the American College (WICE) in Paris, France.

---

Whether in person in his studio or online through Zoom, Mr. Jelasic enjoys teaching internationally and welcomes new students. Inquiries about lessons can be made by emailing:
[email protected]
253.517.7123

---

***** (Five-Star) A Masterful Performance
“James Jelasic’s stirring performance of Chopin’s waltzes is the finest I’ve heard. His voicing technique combined with a precise execution of the music makes this one of the most listenable works I own. Open a bottle of wine, find a comfortable leather chair, and put on this CD. You won’t be disappointed.”
— Mega Music Reviews.com —

“James Jelasic — excellent musician with a talent admired by all … impressive and securely facile.”
— Music Critic, Journal de Blois, Blois, France —

“In his brilliant execution, Jelasic captures and transports us with his art to the imaginary musical world of Chopin, which is difficult to find in other recordings of Chopin’s music. With profound technique on the piano, when Jelasic plays Chopin, he makes us feel the composer’s expression, times, passages of life, and personality."
— Eddie Galleno, La Nación, Washington, D.C. —

Copyright 1998-2024. Water's Edge Records^TM