What They Say

"Sheila Dugan has trained dozens of singers who have performed at THE MUNY through the years. Children, teens, adults... all ages of her students have been represented on THE MUNY stage, as well as Broadway Stages and stages across the country. Good training shows!"

"Sheila Dugan made an immense difference in the vocal production of many of the actors who have worked with METRO THEATER COMPANY. She managed to assess each person's needs, and build the individual skills that gave each actor confidence and versatility. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Sheila for the ways in which she inspired my own vocal development. Our lessons were always a joy."

"I've had the pleasure of working with Sheila Dugan over the last 10 years here in St. Louis. She is the individual to whom I refer my patients with more complex vocal problems for rehabilitation. She is probably the most effective voice therapist with whom I've worked. Sheila is honest, hard-working, and has an outstanding relationship with her students. She also has an outstanding relationship with my patients. I've had nothing but compliments from anyone I've sent to her for help."

"I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Ms. Sheila Dugan in a professional capacity for the last fifteen years. She has proven to be an intelligent, effective, intellectually honest voice teacher/therapist. The patients I have referred to her have unanimously been complimentary of her professional capabilities as well as her personality and demeanor. The results of her therapeutic interventions have been successful."

"I have known Ms. Dugan for over ten years, both personally and professionally. Sheila has a remarkable ability to identify and rectify vocal problems. I have always known her to be warm and kind to her students while truthfully evaluating their progress. Many of our young performers at THE MUNY have studied with Ms. Dugan to great advantage. She has successfully guided students to professional careers in musical theatre, opera and popular music. From a personal perspective, Sheila not only taught my own daughter, Natalie Hall, but mentored her as well. Natalie credits Sheila for her part on Broadway as Louisa Von Trapp in the 1998 revival of The Sound of Music."

"Sheila Dugan has been a friend and colleague for more that 30 years. I first heard her name when I served as auditions accompanist for the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, then directed by Thomas Peck. It was customary that if the applicant sang well, Ms. Dugan was the teacher, or if the applicant needed a teacher, or a transformation, her name topped the suggestion list. Mr. Peck felt Ms. Dugan was the one teacher whose students knew how to use their voices correctly, intelligently and musically. Those following Maestro Peck's advice invariably sang with incredible improvement at subsequent auditions."

"Sheila Dugan studied singing with me at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, earning both the Bachelor's and Master's degrees. In 48 years of teaching, Sheila is without question the most outstanding teacher of the hundreds of students I have had. Her students are consistently admitted to major music schools and those specializing in Music Theatre have had great success on Broadway and other professional venues. Sheila's success stems from her being a real artist and fantastic musician and from a thorough knowledge of the singing voice."

"It has been my pleasure to know Ms. Sheila Dugan for the past 10 years. During that time, I have had the privilege of observing her students in performance as well as her master class that she taught for the dancers in my dance company. The workshop that she put together for my dancers was exceptional. She was able to impart immense information and understanding of the physical nature of singing. That she can bring the physicality of singing to a dancer's understanding is amazing!"

"As Director of Theatre Arts at Ladue Horton Watkins High School, I have had the good fortune to work with many talented students. Many of these students have gone on to major college theatre programs and even careers in the performing arts. One of the common factors among these students is their relationship with Sheila Dugan. I am frequently asked to recommend vocal coaches. Sheila Dugan is the only name I ever offer. What she provides, students can rely on forever."

"I have had the pleasure to know and work with Sheila Dugan for the last eight years. Many of my students have studied with Sheila. As the choral director at Parkway North High School, I have witnessed tremendous development in their vocal technique, musicianship, and professionalism. I have taken lessons with her for the past five years. She has literally saved my voice from the daily abuse of teaching. I am singing better than ever, thanks to Sheila."

"When I was cast as Radames in a L.A. tour of "Aida," I knew that I could only get through such a vocally demanding role with Sheila's help. I booked a two-hour session with her, booked a flight to get to her, and am now vocally sailing through Radames in ways I would have never dreamed possible, considering I'm really a lyric baritone!"

"Sheila Dugan is incredibly perceptive. She quickly identified my weaknesses and gave me practical and very helpful guidance on how to better utilize my voice and become a more effective speaker. I noticed improvement after each of my lessons. Sheila was a delight to work with, professional and dynamic, yet down to earth and fun."

"I struggled with trying to find a competent, caring speech/diction coach for my son for years. It was the most frustrating experience of childrearing that I have had. No one seemed able to take him from saying single words clearly, to the next step of clear, comprehensible speech. I had almost given up on finding him help when my friend recommended Sheila Dugan. The first visit was a watershed event in which she listened to Jason and understood right away what was difficult about his speech. She has designed a creative, whole body approach to helping Jason and I am very grateful. I can hear the improvement in his speech, and the growth of his confidence as a person."

"Sheila is so experienced and knowledgeable, she really has a knack for making kids understand how to 'sing the right way.' Easy and fun."

"This year I was Annie at THE MUNY. Sheila taught me how to sing so I wouldn't strain my voice. I never felt vocal fatigue or strain all through the rehearsals and seven performances."

"Over the 30 years that I have been performing in, directing, or producing musical theatre productions-at whatever level-professional or amateur, I have found that the key ingredient to a successful show is finding talented individuals. We have had the pleasure of having some of Ms. Dugan's students perform with BRAVO THEATRE GROUP over the years. The training she has provided and the discipline that Ms. Dugan has instilled in her students is very evident. Their talent has added to the success of our productions. It is her fine working relationship with her students and her ability to get the best out of them that made me decide to send my daughter Anita, and my son Neal to train with her. It has been a pleasure to have an association with Ms. Dugan and her students. I look forward to having them participate in many more of our shows."

"It's very simple... without Sheila Dugan in my life as my vocal coach and friend, I would have not been properly trained for the life I have chosen to lead as a performer and as an individual. The hours that I spent in her studio were full of creativity, dedication, and most of all honesty. Every week there was something new to learn, not only in the music, but in myself. I left her studio with the confidence and the training that I needed to take my career to the next level."

"After nearly 10 years of private study, I have finally found a voice teacher who teaches the right way to sing. I have had the opportunity to sing across the globe with many different teachers. Little did I know that right here in St. Louis I would find the best one. Sheila Dugan's studio is a warm, welcoming environment that encourages expression and artistry."

"Our granddaughter, Emily, who is eleven years old, became interested in voice lessons to round out her interest in musical theatre. Emily found Sheila Dugan through glowing recommendations from other students. She feels that she is learning valuable techniques and her singing has progressed nicely. I have gone with Emily to a few of her lessons and have been impressed with Sheila Dugan's skill and dedication in her teaching techniques. Emily aspires to be performing on the stage of our theatre one day."

"Just wanted to report to you that, thanks in large part to you, my speaking engagement went beautifully! I was more excited than nervous and the employees seemed to really enjoy themselves. I can't say that I am eager to do it again soon, but it certainly took me a step beyond my comfort zone. You were a tremendous help in the very short time I gave you to teach me. The words you shared and the points you made were just what I needed to give me the confidence to speak in public. THANK YOU again for doing such wonderful work."