Meet our teachers
Dr. Valentine Baron
Founder and Voice Teacher
Dr. Valentine Baron (soprano) is a native of France, after a Bachelor and a Master in Musicology received in Montpellier, France, she moved to New York to pursue a Master of Music in Voice Performance and Pedagogy at New York University in the studio of the tenor Dr. Scott Murphree. While studying at NYU she taught voice as an adjunct in the same institution. In 2018, she opened her own voice studio in Paris where she taught voice to more than 40 students (Classical, Musical Theater, CCM). A passionate about writing, vocal science and vocal pedagogy she moved back to the United States and received her Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) at the University of Nevada Las Vegas in the studio of the soprano Dr. Linda Lister. Her doctoral document entitled “Developing Vocal Agility of Light Lyric Coloratura Soprano Voices Through the Neglected Repertoire of French Opéra Comique” is a pedagogical guide encouraging light soprano voices reconnecting with the opera comique repertoire for technical development of vocal agility. In 2022 she is the winner of the National Opera Association dissertation competition. Valentine is a member of the National Opera Association, Pan American Vocology Association, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She presented two posters of research at the NATS Cal-Western Regional Conference, one on the use of SOVTP exercises to heal voice disorders and one on breathing techniques by female pedagogues. In 2021, Valentine placed third at the Regional NATSAA (NATS Artist Award) competition in Provo, UT. As a performer she performed with Regina Opera Company, FAVA Opera, UNLV Opera, Opera Las Vegas and Vegas City Opera. Currently living in Las Vegas, Valentine is a faculty member at the University of Nevada Las Vegas where she teaches voice pedagogy and French melodies.
Keaton Delmar John
Voice Teacher
Keaton Delmar Johns is a graduate from Southern Utah University with a BFA in Musical Theatre (Summa Cum Laude), and is a proud alumnus of Las Vegas Academy for the Arts. He is currently playing Robin Gibb in Australian Bee Gees (Excalibur Las Vegas), and The Rose in The Golden Gays (USA/Europe). Previous credits include Gabe in Next to Normal (Southern Utah University), Hanschen in Spring Awakening (Majestic Repertory Theatre; 2019 Valley Award Winner for Best Supporting Actor), Riff in West Side Story (Signature Productions), Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus (Southern Utah University), Malcolm in Macbeth (Bard at the Bar), Sheriff Joe Sutter in The Spitfire Grill (Las Vegas Little Theatre), and Bobby Strong in Urinetown (Southern Utah University). He is also a professional singing drag queen in Las Vegas known as Kitty Del Mar, and a singing gondolier at the Venetian hotel. His debut album, Cedar Sunsets, will come out summer 2024.
Dr. Ana Elisa Portes
Voice Teacher
Dr. Ana Elisa Portes, mezzo soprano, was born in Brazil and completed undergraduate studies in Vocal Performance at the University of São Paulo, instructed by Francisco Campos and Ricardo Ballestero. She moved to the U.S. to pursue her Master’s Degree at the University of New Mexico with Dr. Olga Perez Flora and Dr. Kristin Ditlow. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Nevada Las Vegas under the guidance of Dr. Kimberly James. Her operatic roles include Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, Dorabella in Così fan Tutte, Tolomeo in Giulio Cesare, Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas, Rosine in Signor Deluso, Don Ettore in La Canterina, and Isolier in Le Comte Ory. Ana has performed as a soloist in concerts including Mozart’s Requiem and Coronation Mass, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, and Fauré’s Requiem, she also performs as a solo recitalist in Brazil and US. She has recently received 1st place award at NATS, Las Vegas Chapter (2022), and won the UNLV Concerto Competition (2023) performing Shéhérazade by Maurice Ravel with the UNLV Symphony Orchestra.
As an educator, Ana has experience in both group and individual instruction. She worked as a full-time music teacher at St. Paul’s School, in São Paulo, teaching 3-6 year old children (PrePrep School), and giving private piano and voice lessons to all age groups, preparing the students for the London College of Music Exams and IB. She has worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of New Mexico, and at UNLV. At both institutions, she has had the opportunity to teach voice students at the undergraduate level.
She sees herself as both a teacher and a learner in the classroom, and believes that her attitude serves as a model for her students. She maintains a healthy relationship with students, wanting them to feel confident and safe, so they can explore their sensitivity, listening skills, and creativity. She encourages mastery, competency, lifelong learning, critical thinking, and the exchange of experiences and ideas.
Pauline Tamale
Voice Teacher
Pauline ‘Ofa Tamale, mezzo-soprano, is a native Pacific Islander from the Kingdom of Tonga in the heart of the South Pacific. She was praised by the Schmopera for “sung stirringly” in her first opera and Florida debut in the role of Mrs. Patrick De Rocher in the opera Dead Man Walking by Jake Heggie. Currently in her last year of studies for her Doctoral of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance studies at the University of Nevada Las Vegas under the direction of Dr. Alfonse Anderson. Before moving to Southern Nevada, she completed her Masters of Music in Vocal Performance at California State University Northridge and Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at California State University Long Beach from the voice studio of Shigemi Matsumoto. She has won several competitions including NATS Las Vegas Chapter 2021 among many in the South Bay area in Los Angeles. She is an active performer with Opera Las Vegas and recently was in the production of La Boheme by Giacomo Puccini in their closing performance of the 2023-34 seasons, and has appeared on stage at the Nevada premiere of the Letters to Lily by Emily Clemens with the Opera Las Vegas on 2022 seasons. She has performed the role of Zita from Gianni Schicchi, and La Zia Principessa from Suor Angelica by Giacomo Puccini, as well as L’Opinion Publique from Jacques Offenbach’s Orphée aux enfers with the California State University Northridge Opera Program.
She was a member of the Bob Cole Chamber Choir as they won the title “Choir of the World” competition at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales, 2016, and has performed at the St. Paul Cathedral in London and St. Mary the Virgin at the Oxford University in England. Her training also led her to perform with the El Camino Chorale in Carnegie Hall in 2013 with the work of Faure Requiem. She also performed as an Alto soloist for Messiah in the Los Angeles and Las Vegas area. She participated in the 2019 American Institute of Musical Studies program in Graz, Austria, and was hired as the alto soloist for the Missa Purification by Fux at the Münzgrabenkirche and performed with the orchestra at the Schloßbergbühne Kasematten, Austria. She also worked and sang for a new opera read with the LA Opera for Placido Domingo in their 2020-21 season opera. She is an active performer with the UNLV Opera program and will perform in the Fall scenes program.
Kathryne Pham
Voice and Piano Teacher
Kat Pham is a multi-instrumentalist from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. With her extensive classical background in both voice and piano, she is able to maneuver through multiple genres with ease. She has performed all over the United States including: Howl at the Moon San Antonio, Michael Murphy’s Oklahoma City, The Shag Room Las Vegas, George’s Keep San Antonio, Keys Piano Bar Manchester, Thirsty Horse San Antonio, and The Barbershop Las Vegas, to name a few. When she’s not performing, she’s playing with balls on the tennis court, singing her heart out at open mic nights and karaoke, or spreading joy of music through private music education.
Jessica Vargo
Voice Teacher
Gabrielle Goudard
Voice Teacher (online only)
Gabrielle Goudard is an operatic soprano and multidisciplinary artist who has appeared on numerous stages around the world, including festivals in France, Italy, Norway, Spain, Lebanon, Oman, Turkey, China, Taiwan, Peru and the US. Over the course of her career, she has studied and performed Opera, Western classical music, Jazz, Balinese music, Middle Eastern music, Turkish music and Gospel music. Notable operatic roles include Dorabella and Despina (Cosi Fan Tutte), Paoluccia (La Cecchina), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Gianetta (l’Elisir d’Amore), Lola (Cavalleria Rusticana), Amital (Betulia Liberata), and Cherubino (Three Little Pigs feat. music of W.A. Mozart). Parallel to her path as a classical vocalist, Gabrielle has cultivated a deep interest in other genres, including Indonesian, Middle Eastern, and Turkish music, Gospel, and Jazz. She also has extensive performance experience as a percussionist and Gamelan musician. Her interest in non-Western music led her to study Middle Eastern music at the National Superior Conservatory of Beirut and perform throughout the region, in Lebanon, Oman and Turkey. In 2020, she founded a jazz project, Gabrielle Goudard and the French Quarter, which performs a repertoire of translated and original songs in her native language, French. This group has performed across the Chicago area and Perú at venues including Andy’s Jazz Club, the Ivy Room, 360 CloudBar and the Jazz Zone, for the French Consulate of Chicago and the French American Chamber of Commerce of Chicago. In the Chicago area, she is an active classical soloist, ensemble musician and Jazz bandleader. Gabrielle is an active voice teacher and also serves as temporary faculty at Universities in the Chicago area where she teaches French diction for singers.
Morgan Stevenson
Acting Teacher
Morgan is a Theatre Artist and Screenwriter from New York City. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from The New School with a concentration in Acting and Directing. While attending The New School, Morgan ran a Theatre group for college aged actors, writers and directors. Additionally, she received production credits for her original documentary Theatre play entitled Shut It Down which had a residency at the Harlem Repertory Theatre in 2016 where she served as executive producer, writer and director. She went on to participate in the New York City Fringe Festival where she was co-director of an original play entitled The Topography Between. Morgan has also studied at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Media and Education where she received a Masters of Arts degree in Educational Theatre. During that time, she has acted in productions in Puerto Rico, Ireland, New York and her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. While studying at NYU, she served as a graduate assistant teaching fellow for various playwriting, scene study and acting classes.Upon graduating from NYU, Morgan began a career as a Theatre teacher in Brooklyn, New York where she has served students from Kindergarten through 12th grade for 6 years. She has recently relocated to Las Vegas where she plans to continue her education at University of Nevada, Las Vegas in a Dramatic Media MFA program.
David Gibbons
Guitar Teacher
David has had a lifelong passion for music. Originally from North Carolina, he began guitar lessons in 1993 and studied under several very talented instructors. He has never lost his interest in making music.
David plays a variety of styles of music from country and western, to folk, singer songwriter and rock. His specialty is integrating his guitar playing together with vocals. David uses a lot of fingerpicking in his technique and is very excited to work with his students on these techniques.
David has a unique teaching style that he is very excited to share with his students. He is genuinely passionate about music and to be able to share that with students and participate in their musical journey is an honor. Whether it is picking up a guitar for the first time and getting started with basics or polishing up skills to be ready for a gig, David will do everything he can to help you with your goals.
David is also an avid rock climber, which is what brought him to Las Vegas.