Make it stand out.
Charlene was my voice teacher from the ages of 11-21. Through those years I had the honor of calling her a teacher, mentor, and later, friend when I worked at the same music school where she'd taught me. In our time together, Charlene taught me everything I know about singing, and so much about life. She always knew what I needed, and as I journeyed through adolescence, she provided me with my most sacred safe haven. Sometimes I'd walk into her room and told her there was a song I needed to sing to let out whatever had been on my heart that week. Sometimes we'd end up spending the entire lesson just talking. But no matter what it was, every minute helped me to grow as both a person and as an artist. Though we'd often butt heads as she'd push me to continue working on a song I hated or found too difficult, as I grew into adulthood I learned that she was always right, and that every argument was a lesson in disguise, lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. She constantly pushed me past my self-imposed boundaries, and that constant belief in me is the sole reason that I am the singer I am today. I could spend hours or fill an entire book with individual memories of Charlene: the sound of her laughter that would brighten even my darkest days; her shouts over my singing as she called for me to push harder, or cheered on success; the warmth that came over me when she'd harmonize with me during a performance, and that same warmth I feel every time I listen to it now. But since I do not have a book, I will leave it to this: Charlene meant the world to me and I owe her so much of my musical life. To have been one of her students is one of the greatest honors of my life, and I know that in all my performances going forward, she will be in my heart, pushing me to new heights and cheering me on as she always did. With much love and gratitude- Juliana Caputo
