Singing Workshops in Paris
Updated: Aug 26
Intimate vocal workshops in Musical Theatre, Classical, Jazz, Contemporary, and somatic voice work - for all levels, in the heart of Paris.
I'm opening the doors to a series of intimate singing and vocal workshops in Paris: small groups, multiple genres, and a range of formats to suit however much time you have. From beginner to advanced voice users, this is your opportunity to level up your singing in a focused, supportive space, alongside a new way to keep growing your voice year-round.
Who I am - and why I created these workshops
I'm Kayla Collingwood: a New Zealand-born contralto classical singer and music educator based in Paris, France.
My training is rooted in classical vocal tradition:
Master of Music in Classical Voice, University of Auckland
Graduate Certificate in Theatre Studies, University of Waikato
Ongoing professional development, particularly in vocal science and trauma-informed practices
Professional operatic debut in 2016, followed by years performing as a soloist across New Zealand, France, and beyond
Years of teaching privately, in schools, daycares and academic institutions, and workshops
You can read more about my performance background on my biography page.
Classical technique is the foundation of everything I teach, but it is not the limit. A rigorous understanding of vocal anatomy and voice science means I can work with voices across genres: teaching healthy belting alongside bel canto, helping a jazz singer find brightness or warmth in their tone with the same anatomical understanding I bring to a classical recitalist. The genre changes. The body doesn't.
Beyond technique, what drives my work is a conviction that the human voice is not just a musical instrument. It is a vehicle for identity, healing, and connection.
My approach is holistic, person-centred, and trauma-informed. I draw on classical singing, stagecraft, theatre, somatic practice, and ongoing training in therapeutic principles to create spaces where musical growth and personal growth happen alongside each other. You don't have to leave any part of yourself at the door.
These workshops are an extension of that practice.
The workshop streams
All workshops run in intimate groups, with beginners and professionals working together in the same room. 1:1 coaching is tailored to each person's level, but everyone learns from being in the space together.
🎭🎵 Expand Your Voice: Musical Theatre and Contemporary Singing
3 days
For MT singers, from Golden Age to contemporary, and Contemporary singers, from pop and soul to jazz, R&B, and indie, brought into one shared framework grounded in vocal science and a trauma-informed approach. Across three days we build from Your Instrument (anatomy, breath, sound) to Your Architecture (registers, voice types, vocal qualities) to Your Signature (style, effects, musicianship). Mornings are group sessions; afternoons bring individual coaching on your own repertoire, open for observation. We close with an informal showcase. All levels welcome.
🎼 Expand Your Voice: Classical and Jazz Singing
3 days · includes classical-adjacent genres
For classical, classical-leaning (legit musical theatre, crossover), and jazz singers. Across three days we build from Your Instrument (vocal anatomy and technical basics) to Your Architecture (registers, voice types, vocal qualities) to Your Signature (style, effects, musicianship). Mornings are group sessions; afternoons bring individual coaching on your own repertoire, open for observation. We close with an informal showcase. All levels welcome.
🧭 Expand Your Voice: Touchstone
1-day masterclass
A touchpoint for singers who've done a 3-day Expand Your Voice workshop and want to keep the momentum going, and equally a standalone way in if you haven't attended a three day workshop yet. Open to classical, musical theatre, and contemporary singers alike.
🎤 Expand Your Voice: Teen Singing Intensive
Multi-day masterclass · Teens
A multi-day intensive for teen singers actively pursuing high-level performance, whether that's shows and performances, auditions, drama school, or a serious next step in their training.
🌿 Breath & Bloom
Adults only · Trauma-informed somatic voice work
A stream where performance isn't the focus. For anyone who wants to reconnect with their voice, whether it's been silenced by past experience, self-doubt, or simply time. Sessions weave together gentle group singing, somatic exercises, breathwork, and space for reflection. No pressure to perform, no hierarchy of ability.
Good for: people reconnecting with their voice after trauma, loss, or a long absence, and anyone who wants to explore voice as a wellness practice.
For visitors and locals
For those visiting Paris, this is an experience that goes well beyond the tourist trail. For those who already live here, it is an invitation to go deeper into your own voice, in your own city, with a small community of people who showed up for the same reason.
Exact dates vary through the year. Join the mailing list for current news, and check my TicketTailor page for whichever events are currently selling.
The Singing Space: a year-round home for your voice
Alongside the in-person workshops, The Singing Space is my online monthly singing membership for anyone who wants to keep growing their voice between workshops, wherever they're based.
Membership includes:
A monthly live masterclass with coached singing slots
Community access
Priority booking for 1:1 lessons
All grounded in the same trauma-informed, voice-science-based approach behind everything else I teach.
Is this for you?
These workshops, and The Singing Space, are for you if:
You've always wanted to sing but never felt like you belonged in a traditional music class
You're a trained singer looking to grow in a warm, non-competitive environment
You want to understand why your voice does what it does, not just go off vibes
You're visiting Paris and want a cultural experience with real depth
You're working through something and sense that your voice is part of the journey
You simply want to make music with other people in a room that feels good to be in
How to sign up
Join the mailing list for current news, and check my TicketTailor page for whichever events are currently selling.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need singing experience to join? Most streams welcome all levels, unless otherwise indicated. For the Expand Your Voice workshops, you should be prepared to sing in front of people. For Breath & Bloom, we take things at your pace.
Are sessions in English or French? Sessions are led primarily in English, with French support available. Ensemble songs for contemporary singing styles will be in English. Your repertoire choices can be in any language, but please provide word-for-word translations and transliterations where necessary, for example for Arabic or Korean. Classical streams will naturally cover Italian, French, German, English, and other languages.
How big are the groups? Groups are kept small, with a little flexibility depending on the specific needs of the group. Intimacy is a core design principle, not an afterthought.
What does "classical technique foundation" mean in practice? It's worth distinguishing this from the science-backed approach that runs through everything I teach. Classical technique specifically is about beauty of sound and efficient use of the body to produce a sound that doesn't need amplification. Even if you're not planning to sing opera, that foundation is useful across genres: whether you're learning to belt safely or interpret a Schubert song, you'll understand what you're doing and why, and that knowledge travels with you long after the workshop ends. And if a question stumps me (it does happen!), I'll go and find the answer. You won't be fobbed off with a guess.
What kind of environment can I expect? Warm, welcoming, and encouraging. You'll find support both from me and from the other participants, in a space that's non-competitive and collaborative rather than one where people are pitted against each other. Whatever level you're at, the group meets you where you are.
I'm not sure which stream is right for me. Can I ask? Absolutely. Get in touch via the contact form on my website, or reply to any newsletter, and I'll help you find the right fit.
I'm a professional singer. Will this be too basic for me? No. Beginners and professionals work together in the same room across all streams, and 1:1 coaching is tailored to each person's level within that. There's real value in that mix: we can all learn from one another regardless of level, and professionals often find it interesting to see how earlier-stage singers are taught, not just to work on their own technique. I am a professional classical singer myself, and I work at the technical level each singer brings. Professional participants often find the cross-genre and cross-level technical conversations the most surprising and useful part of the experience.
I've been told I can't sing. Is Breath & Bloom still for me? Yes. Especially yes. Breath & Bloom exists precisely for people who have been given that message. This is not about performance or assessed ability. It is about returning to your voice on your own terms, at your own pace, in a space that is truly safe.
Kayla Collingwood is a contralto classical singer, music educator, and trauma-informed voice practitioner based in Paris, France. She offers individual lessons, workshops, and bespoke educational experiences online and in person.
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