Meet the
Sonaura
Team
Singing is not a solo sport. We believe in creating a vibrant community – to sharpen our skills, stretch our thinking and cheer us on towards our highest and best.
We’re a tribe founded on this idea:
We lift as we climb.
Meet the
Sonaura Team
Singing is not a solo sport. We believe in creating a vibrant community – to sharpen our skills, stretch our thinking and cheer us on towards our highest and best.
We’re a tribe founded on this idea: We lift as we climb.
Meet the
Sonaura Team
Singing is not a solo sport. We believe in creating a vibrant community – to sharpen our skills, stretch our thinking and cheer us on towards our highest and best.
We’re a tribe founded on this idea: We lift as we climb.
Founder | Vocologist | Singing Voice Specialist
Kristen Ruiz
Kristen Ruiz is a singing voice specialist, a vocal producer, the founder of Sonaura and the former director of NYU’s post-graduate advanced voice pedagogy program. She’s helped hundreds of professional singers, voice teachers and voice care workers all over the world learn to sing with unleashed vocal freedom, revel in the awesome uniqueness of their own vocal colors and coordinate the voice to immediately respond to their artistic whim in performance. Her clients range across genres and professional music industry niches. Kristen has appeared as a vocalist in regional and historic halls, including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. She has been a featured soloist and creative director for a number of national tours and continues to pursue creative performance projects. As a researcher, Kristen is currently working on projects synthesizing voice pedagogy and adult learning and development theory.
Kristen helps SINGERS unlock their voice and unleash their own unique vocal qualities using a fusion of art and science – so you develop a technique that FEELS GREAT, delivers your ARTISTIC INTUITION, helps you OVERCOME old vocal hangups, GROWS with you, meets the versatile demands of PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE, and always sounds AUTHENTICALLY YOU. We are fiercely dedicated to HEALTHY & SUSTAINABLE vocalism.
As a trainer of trainers, Kristen works with VOICE TEACHERS and TEACHING ARTISTS to advance their skills – to confidently and effectively help singers across different vocal styles, voice types and developmental levels (grounded in the latest research in voice pedagogy). At the same time, she helps them delve into the next levels of their own artistry and vocalism – so they are growing as both singing artists and teachers.
Founder | Vocologist | Singing Voice Specialist
Kristen Ruiz
Kristen Ruiz is a singing voice specialist, a vocal producer, the founder of Sonaura and the former director of NYU’s post-graduate advanced voice pedagogy program. She’s helped hundreds of professional singers, voice teachers and voice care workers all over the world learn to sing with unleashed vocal freedom, revel in the awesome uniqueness of their own vocal colors and coordinate the voice to immediately respond to their artistic whim in performance. Her clients range across genres and professional music industry niches. Kristen has appeared as a vocalist in regional and historic halls, including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. She has been a featured soloist and creative director for a number of national tours and continues to pursue creative performance projects. As a researcher, Kristen is currently working on projects synthesizing voice pedagogy and adult learning and development theory.
Kristen helps SINGERS unlock their voice and unleash their own unique vocal qualities using a fusion of art and science – so you develop a technique that FEELS GREAT, delivers your ARTISTIC INTUITION, helps you OVERCOME old vocal hangups, GROWS with you, meets the versatile demands of PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE, and always sounds AUTHENTICALLY YOU. We are fiercely dedicated to HEALTHY & SUSTAINABLE vocalism.
As a trainer of trainers, Kristen works with VOICE TEACHERS and TEACHING ARTISTS to advance their skills – to confidently and effectively help singers across different vocal styles, voice types and developmental levels (grounded in the latest research in voice pedagogy). At the same time, she helps them delve into the next levels of their own artistry and vocalism – so they are growing as both singing artists and teachers.
Associate Teacher
Jeremy Aye
Jeremy has spent the last 25 years as a Teaching Artist, consistently navigating the demanding expectations as a singer and educator. As a baritone, he is equally versatile in opera and musical theater, having performed with numerous opera companies and arts organizations throughout the United States and Europe. Beyond his solo work, Jeremy has served as an extra chorister with The Metropolitan Opera for 15 seasons, with over 470 performances under his belt.
His joy in singing is only matched by his profound love of teaching. Similar to his mentor and renowned vocal pedagogue, Barbara Doscher, teaching has become Jeremy’s raison d’être. Helping singers discover their most complete, flexible and authentic voices is an exciting and rewarding process. Yet rarely is that journey clear and smooth for the singer. As an active vocal artist, Jeremy understands the tremendous responsibility of caring for a voice (and its owner’s soul) along the way.
In addition to his 18-year tenure as adjunct voice professor at NYU Steinhardt, Jeremy currently serves on the voice faculty for Prague Summer Nights, a four-week summer music festival that produces recitals, concerts and operas in the Czech Republic. Equally comfortable teaching multiple vocal genres, his students range from emerging talent to industry professionals in the fields of opera, music theater, jazz, pop and singer/songwriters.
Associate Teacher
Jeremy Aye
Jeremy has spent the last 25 years as a Teaching Artist, consistently navigating the demanding expectations as a singer and educator. As a baritone, he is equally versatile in opera and musical theater, having performed with numerous opera companies and arts organizations throughout the United States and Europe. Beyond his solo work, Jeremy has served as an extra chorister with The Metropolitan Opera for 15 seasons, with over 470 performances under his belt.
His joy in singing is only matched by his profound love of teaching. Similar to his mentor and renowned vocal pedagogue, Barbara Doscher, teaching has become Jeremy’s raison d’être. Helping singers discover their most complete, flexible and authentic voices is an exciting and rewarding process. Yet rarely is that journey clear and smooth for the singer. As an active vocal artist, Jeremy understands the tremendous responsibility of caring for a voice (and its owner’s soul) along the way.
In addition to his 18-year tenure as adjunct voice professor at NYU Steinhardt, Jeremy currently serves on the voice faculty for Prague Summer Nights, a four-week summer music festival that produces recitals, concerts and operas in the Czech Republic. Equally comfortable teaching multiple vocal genres, his students range from emerging talent to industry professionals in the fields of opera, music theater, jazz, pop and singer/songwriters.
Associate Teacher
Jeremy Aye
Jeremy has spent the last 25 years as a Teaching Artist, consistently navigating the demanding expectations as a singer and educator. As a baritone, he is equally versatile in opera and musical theater, having performed with numerous opera companies and arts organizations throughout the United States and Europe. Beyond his solo work, Jeremy has served as an extra chorister with The Metropolitan Opera for 15 seasons, with over 470 performances under his belt.
His joy in singing is only matched by his profound love of teaching. Similar to his mentor and renowned vocal pedagogue, Barbara Doscher, teaching has become Jeremy’s raison d’être. Helping singers discover their most complete, flexible and authentic voices is an exciting and rewarding process. Yet rarely is that journey clear and smooth for the singer. As an active vocal artist, Jeremy understands the tremendous responsibility of caring for a voice (and its owner’s soul) along the way.
In addition to his 18-year tenure as adjunct voice professor at NYU Steinhardt, Jeremy currently serves on the voice faculty for Prague Summer Nights, a four-week summer music festival that produces recitals, concerts and operas in the Czech Republic. Equally comfortable teaching multiple vocal genres, his students range from emerging talent to industry professionals in the fields of opera, music theater, jazz, pop and singer/songwriters.
Associate Teacher
Stephanie VanAlstine
Stephanie VanAlstine is a Teaching Artist, with her Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance: Music Theatre and an Advanced Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from NYU. She believes deeply in the power of combining advanced pedagogical knowledge with joy and heart to teach her students how to reach the next level! She has been lucky enough to play a wide range of roles in her career as a performer, from Sarah Brown in “Guys and Dolls” to Gertrude Stein in the New York City premiere of Stephen Flaherty’s original musical “Loving Repeating”. When she isn’t teaching or performing, she’s most likely scuba diving, horseback riding, or snuggled on the couch with her two chihuahua’s!
Associate Teacher
Stephanie Bacastow
Stephanie is a New York City based performer and voice teacher, originally from metro-Atlanta. Dedicated to empowering her students, Stephanie helps singers navigate their voices using practical, applicable tools so they can leave the studio singing and communicating more freely and sustainably than when they walked in!
As a singer, Stephanie has appeared in concerts at The Town Hall, Feinstein’s 54 Below, and Birdland Jazz Club, and was a semi-finalist in the 2015 Lotte Lenya Competition. Some of her favorite performance credits include Johanna in Sweeney Todd, Rosa Bud in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Luisa in The Fantasticks, and Mary in Mary Poppins. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Vocal Performance, and an Advanced Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from NYU.
Associate Teacher
Stephanie Meadowcroft
Stephanie Meadowcroft is a Philadelphia and New York City-based singer, actress, and voice teacher. Growing up in Bel Air, Maryland, she began taking voice and piano lessons at the Maryland Conservatory of Music at 10 years old. In May of 2016, Stephanie graduated Magna Cum Laude from NYU with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance: Music Theatre. Most recently, she received her Advanced Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from Sonaura in 2021. She is thrilled to be able to bring together years of personal experience and professional study to help singers develop their unique voice. Some of Stephanie’s favorite performance credits include Elsa in The Sound of Music, Mary in A Wonderful Life, and Philia in A Funny Thing Happened…Forum. As a singer, she has gotten to perform with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and travel internationally with The American Bombshells. Currently, Stephanie lives between NYC and Philly with her husband, her two dogs, Gunther and Burton, and two kitty cats, Olivia and Gracie.
Associate Teacher
Stephanie VanAlstine
Stephanie VanAlstine is a Teaching Artist, with her Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance: Music Theatre and an Advanced Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from NYU. She believes deeply in the power of combining advanced pedagogical knowledge with joy and heart to teach her students how to reach the next level! She has been lucky enough to play a wide range of roles in her career as a performer, from Sarah Brown in “Guys and Dolls” to Gertrude Stein in the New York City premiere of Stephen Flaherty’s original musical “Loving Repeating”. When she isn’t teaching or performing, she’s most likely scuba diving, horseback riding, or snuggled on the couch with her two chihuahua’s!
Associate Teacher
Stephanie Bacastow
Stephanie is a New York City based performer and voice teacher, originally from metro-Atlanta. Dedicated to empowering her students, Stephanie helps singers navigate their voices using practical, applicable tools so they can leave the studio singing and communicating more freely and sustainably than when they walked in!
As a singer, Stephanie has appeared in concerts at The Town Hall, Feinstein’s 54 Below, and Birdland Jazz Club, and was a semi-finalist in the 2015 Lotte Lenya Competition. Some of her favorite performance credits include Johanna in Sweeney Todd, Rosa Bud in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Luisa in The Fantasticks, and Mary in Mary Poppins. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Vocal Performance, and an Advanced Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from NYU.
Associate Teacher
Stephanie Meadowcroft
Stephanie Meadowcroft is a Philadelphia and New York City-based singer, actress, and voice teacher. Growing up in Bel Air, Maryland, she began taking voice and piano lessons at the Maryland Conservatory of Music at 10 years old. In May of 2016, Stephanie graduated Magna Cum Laude from NYU with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance: Music Theatre. Most recently, she received her Advanced Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from Sonaura in 2021. She is thrilled to be able to bring together years of personal experience and professional study to help singers develop their unique voice. Some of Stephanie’s favorite performance credits include Elsa in The Sound of Music, Mary in A Wonderful Life, and Philia in A Funny Thing Happened…Forum. As a singer, she has gotten to perform with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and travel internationally with The American Bombshells. Currently, Stephanie lives between NYC and Philly with her husband, her two dogs, Gunther and Burton, and two kitty cats, Olivia and Gracie.
Speech Language Pathologist Consultant
Dr. Geneva Mayne
Dr. Geneva Mayne, SLPD, CCC-SLP is a New York and Connecticut licensed speech-language pathologist and a NCVS trained vocologist. She has over fifteen years experience habilitating and rehabilitating communication skills throughout the lifespan. Dr. Mayne recently completed doctoral studies at Kean University (2022), where her research interests included health and health care disparities in persons with communication disorders, psychosocial risk factors in patients with voice disorders and trauma-informed care. During her studies, she completed a clinical internship at the Lions Voice Clinic and a voice research internship at the Emory Voice Center. Dr. Mayne is founder and owner of Parts of Speech Therapy in Bronxville, NY. She is also a writer at The Informed SLP and co-host of the Agentic Voice Podcast.
Speech Language Pathologist Consultant
Dr. Geneva Mayne
Dr. Geneva Mayne, SLPD, CCC-SLP is a New York and Connecticut licensed speech-language pathologist and a NCVS trained vocologist. She has over fifteen years experience habilitating and rehabilitating communication skills throughout the lifespan. Dr. Mayne recently completed doctoral studies at Kean University (2022), where her research interests included health and health care disparities in persons with communication disorders, psychosocial risk factors in patients with voice disorders and trauma-informed care. During her studies, she completed a clinical internship at the Lions Voice Clinic and a voice research internship at the Emory Voice Center. Dr. Mayne is founder and owner of Parts of Speech Therapy in Bronxville, NY. She is also a writer at The Informed SLP and co-host of the Agentic Voice Podcast.
Interested in training with
Sonaura?
If you’d like to learn more about how our singers are creating lasting vocal transformation – without straining, getting stuck in their heads or working harder…
Or if you’d like to advance your skills as a voice teaching specialist using cutting-edge, evidence-based practices…
Click the link below!