"A teacher who not only make you a better singer, he makes you a better and well-rounded artist."
With over twenty years experience teaching singing across all musical genres and experience levels, Brian Smith Walters has seen his students take up places at leading conservatoires, take contracts at all of the leading opera houses and festivals in the UK, and continue to excel in productions across the West End and Broadway.
Brian has such skill and passion for teaching, and places it in equal importance to his work as a performer, passing on those very skills that serve him in the industry directly to his students.
Brian specialises in teaching classical and musical theatre styles, and is also able to teach pop, rock, and jazz vocals. As a heldentenor, Brian also has specific personal experience in what it takes to develop a voice in the dramatic fächer, and can offer guidance for singers who are experiencing a similar development.
If you are thinking of taking lessons with Brian, use the form below to get in touch!
Why Brian?
Student Testimonials
"I can thoroughly recommend Brian to anyone wishing to better this singing technique, whether you want to focus on the standard operatic canon, on musical theatre, on heavier German & Russian repertoire or even contemporary vocal works requiring extended techniques. Brian is a skilled linguist as well as an accomplished musician. Unlike other singing teachers, Brian has no ego and is purely there to help and support his students, in any way he can. He simply loves music and singing, and it shows."
- Arthur Bruce, baritone, Royal Opera and Oldenburg Oper
"Brian has a wealth of professional experience with a wide-range of repertoire, including covering big roles in A houses. A lot of teachers cannot put their money where their mouths are. He's actually out there doing it. Brian has an exceptional sense of pitch - to the microtonal degree. And I think it is to the immense benefit of his students that Brian allows students to experiment freely in a kind, warm-hearted, supportive environment while also keeping them neatly reined in career pragmatism, care, and honesty."
- Charles Styles, tenor, Yale Opera School and Glyndebourne Festival
"I came to Brian, after a few months of really struggling vocally, as I was told he was particularly good at helping to restructure voices that needed a little help. Brian's vast knowledge of both vocal anatomy, teaching techniques and most of all patience means he has been able to help me immensely. He is kind and careful and able to adapt his teaching, not just to different students, but also to how a particular student is feeling on a given day. Brian rocks."
- David Horton, English Touring Opera and Longborough Festival
"When choosing a teacher, it is more than just finding someone to improve your technique. It is about having a mentor you can trust fully to make decisions in your best interest, motivate you and to inspire you through a very tricky career path. Brian was the person for me as he done all of these things for me and more. He has helped me navigate previous issues and traumas from bad experiences and ensured that they are left in the past in order to move forward positively. Brian is a teacher who not only make you a better singer, he makes you a better and well-rounded artist."
- Rachael Hughes, lyric soprano, Flat Pack Opera and Longborough Festival
The Pre-Screen
Brian's new Pre-Screen service is designed to give you feedback on your audition arias based on Brian's extensive teaching and coaching experience. Focussing primarily on your musical preparation, language, and visual presentation aria-by-aria, Brian will offer constructive feedback for you to perfect your offerings this auditions season.
Please note: singing technique feedback will only be offered if specifically requested.
Make sure your aria videos are as well prepared and as pristine as possible
Send me a video of your aria, and I'll send feedback on musical, lingustic, and visual presentation
Use this to create your best videos this audition season.