About Holly Phares, Founder and Director

For almost 40 years, Holly has not only been singing professionally as a soloist and choral singer, but has also been a choral director of small and large choruses, a vocal coach and voice instructor. In all these situations she has guided singers from all walks of life and levels of experience while helping them discover or recover their authentic voices. She has worked with singers in public and private schools, church choirs, a professional children’s choir, vocal clinics, master classes and in her private voice studio. She also created and directed, Umbrian Serenades, a unique summer choral program, in Umbria, Italy.

Professional Background

  • BM in Music Education – Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ
  • MM in Voice Performance – Temple University, Philadelphia, PA – incomplete
  • Choral Music Director – New Hope-Solebury Jr./Sr. High School; Friends Select School, Philadelphia, PA
  • Youth Choir Director/Associate Organist – Stanton Reformed Church
  • Founding member of The Bridge Ensemble, Philadelphia, PA
  • Member of professional ensemble – The Philadelphia Singers
  • Director of Education and Ensemble Builder – The Philadelphia Singers Chorale
  • Member of Opera Company of Philadelphia Chorus
  • Solo artist – various venues throughout tri-state area and Italy
  • Artist Instructor – The Philly Pops “Jazz in the Schools”
  • Artist Instructor – The Arts & Spirituality Center (now ArtWell), Philadelphia, PA
  • Artist-in-Residence – West Philadelphia High School
  • Assistant Chorus Master – Opera on the Square, Philadelphia, PA
  • Director of Opera Outreach – The Academy of Vocal Arts
  • Music Theory Instructor – The Academy of Vocal Arts
  • Voice Instructor and member of Professional Resident Quartet – The Hotchkiss School Summer Portals Vocal Chamber Music Program
  • Music Director – Temple University Music Prep Children’s Choir
  • Adjunct Vocal Instructor – St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA
  • Founder and Co-Artistic Director, Umbrian Serenades – Spoleto, Italy
  • Director of Music – Tabernacle United Church
  • Adjudicator for Pennsbury Choral Festivals
  • Adjudicator for Vocal Competition – Westminster Choir College
  • Clinician for choirs throughout the tri-state area
  • Master Class Teacher - Curtis Institute of Music for Opera Philadelphia; Philadelphia, PA
  • Founder & Director of Healing Presence Singers
  • Published composer for Church Music Publishing, Inc. & Augsburg Fortress Press
  • Music Director: Old First UCC Church in Philadelphia, PA
  • Guest Instructor w/Bobby McFerrin & master teachers of Circle Singing at Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY
  • Music Director of Parkinsingers, a choir of people living with PD and their care partners and family
  • Artist Instructor for Opera Philadelphia - Family Day and Hip H'Opera program
  • Music Director: Unitarian Universalists of Mt. Airy in Philadelphia, PA
  • Private Voice Instructor & Vocal Coach
  • Private Music Theory & Composition Instructor
Holly Phares