San Francisco Class
7 – 9 pm Mondays
January 17th – March 7th
Congregation Sha’ar Zahav
290 Dolores St at 16th St, San Francisco
Near 16th & Mission BART
This location is wheelchair accessible.
East Bay Class
Tuesdays 8 – 10 pm
January 18th – March 8th
La Peña
3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley
Near Ashby BART
This location is wheelchair accessible.
Cost for each class is $280 for the 8 week session. Registration deadline is Monday, January 10th.
To register, contact: voiceandglitter@gmail.com
Sliding scale conversations upon request. Members of Sha’ar Zahav who register for the SF class may attend for $180.
Course description:
This is a supportive community singing class intended for broadly self-identified transgender, queer, bisexual, two-spirit, gay, genderqueer, lesbian, and/or gender non-conforming people and our straight allies who want to develop their singing voices in a fun group setting. Beginners to experienced singers welcome!
This class draws on Eli Conley’s training in classical, jazz and musical theater singing techniques, as well as his experience as a performing folk, country, and choral singer. The class focuses mostly on solo singing and one group song. We will work on finding and strengthening your natural singing voice by developing breath control, learning how to listen to yourself and other singers, learning how to sing in tune and with confidence throughout your voice’s whole range. The end of the class will also focus on song performance. Each eight-week session will culminate in an optional informal recital on the last day. Glitter will also be optional but highly encouraged!
*This space is centered intentionally in LGBTQ communities because LGBTQ folks all too often find spaces focused on singing lacking relevance to our lives, commitment to our safety, and awareness of our needs. It is open to straight/heterosexual allies who are comfortable an LGBTQ-centered class. If you have any questions about whether the class is right for you, please don’t hesitate to contact Eli at voiceandglitter@gmail.com
Student Testimonials
“Great teacher! Everything was clear and interesting – I felt very engaged… He was awesome at making me feel good about where I was at and moving from there.”
“A great thing about this class is the environment of a judgment-free, supportive group. Eli sets the tone, and it is so nice.Highlight of my year.”
“He’s good at knowing exactly what each singer’s strengths and weaknesses are and knowing exactly how to address them.His weakness – there’s only one of him!”
“I would recommend this class – no matter what your singing experience, skill level or interest you will have fun, you will feel safe and cared for and you will improve!”
Teacher Bio:
Eli Conley is a singer/songwriter, music teacher and social justice activist based in Berkeley, California. He is a white gay transgender man who grew up singing in the renowned Greater Richmond Children’s Choir in Virginia. He has trained in jazz vocal performance at Berklee College of Music in Boston and classical singing at Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio. Eli currently sings tenor with the International Orange Chorale, and performs his indie folk songs solo, and with the band Hip for Squares – hear a sample at myspace.com/eliconley . He is a past member of the Grammy award-winning San Francisco Symphony Chorus. Eli has a special interest in working with transgender students. He teaches private voice lessons from his home in Berkeley — see eliconley.com for more info.
