Derek Graydon, a native Bostonian, won the prestigious Arthur Fiedler Vocal Award at the age of seventeen. He gained his first professional experience with the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. Later he starred in the Michel Legrand musical extravaganza La Parisienne in Paris and Las Vegas. On Broadway he appeared in Do Re Mi and Oliver. He has also performed Off-Broadway with Dorothy Raedler's acclaimed American Savoyard's Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company. Derek studied singing in New York City with renowned teachers Paul Althouse and Helen Jepson. He has sung under the batons of both Leonard Bernstein and Thomas Schippers with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra at New York's Lincoln Center and with Raymond Paige and his orchestra at New York's famed Radio City Music Hall.
Summer musical theatre audiences have seen him in over twenty-five leading roles including Lun Tha in The King and I, Tony in The Boy Friend, the Minstrel in Once Upon a Mattress, Freddie in My Fair Lady, Charlie Dalrymple in Brigadoon, Lieutenant Cable in South Pacific, and Bud in Best Foot Forward. Opera engagements include appearances with the New England, Hartford and Philadelphia opera companies. On television he appeared on Bell Telephone Hour and Best of Broadway as well as a recurring role on Guiding Light. In popular music he was one of the four Rover Boys who's recording of Graduation Day became an international hit.
Since then Derek has become an Internationally Acclaimed teacher. Besides having taught privately in New York City he was also on the opening staff of AMDA/American Musical & Dramatic Academy. In later years he taught extensively in London both privately and at the Academy of Live & Recorded Arts. Director Sorel Carson of ALRA was so impressed with the results of Derek's teaching. He was promptly added to the schools auditioning staff.
He was recently chosen as one of Los Angeles' top teachers in the sought after book The Actor's Guide to Qualified Coaches. Over the years Derek's name has appeared as Singing Teacher on literally hundreds of student resumes.
Derek believes singing is only sustained sound and merely an extension of the speaking voice. He specializes in eliminating “breaks” in the voice and healing early-stage vocal nodes caused by incorrect singing through correct singing. Derek also works on breath control, freedom of the voice, extending range and audition preparation.
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"Art isn't art unless there's some kind of risk in it. I teach everyone as if it were me being taught. Most people think style is technique." Derek Graydon |
| “For years Derek Graydon has produced some of the world's finest singing voices. He has made a lasting mark everywhere his extraordinary teaching career has taken him whether it be New York City, London or Los Angeles.” Leonard Bernstein Composer/Conductor Winner of 2 Tony's & 16 Grammy's |
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“Derek is not just a superb teacher but a phenomenal one. He gets to the very core of a vocal problem and changes it on the spot!” |
| “Unsurpassed” Dame Judi Dench Tony and Oscar award winning actress |
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“Derek Graydon is a master of voice placement. He moved mine from the shower to the stage!” |
“Derek's teachings are scrupulously observed and imaginatively detailed.” Melissa Fahn Understudy for Glinda in Wicked Broadway & Los Angeles |
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“Derek is the only teacher I refer my clients because he is capable of getting anyone to sing faster than any teacher I know!” |
“His technique really works. He evened out the break in my voice in one lesson.” Cobie Smulders Co-Star of hit TV series “How I Met Your Mother” |
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“For years now I've been sending clients to Derek with astounding results.” |
“Derek Graydon passes his vast world of expertise onto the next generation. Let's hope their listening carefully for he has so much to teach us all.” Interview from “The London Stage Newspaper” |
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“Derek really knows his craft and can solve any vocal problem.” |
“His knowledge of singing, music and theater is hard to beat for sheer goose bumps!” Goldie Hawn Oscar award-winning actress. |
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“Being a Broadway alumni Graydon knows precisely what musical directors look for. So he works on developing your singing voice, improving your musicality and working on song interpretation and delivery.” |
“Mr. Graydon gives his students the confidence and ability to perform on a professional level.“ Onna White Choreographer/Director 8 Tony Nominations - Oscar for Oliver |
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“Singers from all over the world come to Los Angeles to study with this passionate, dedicated and remarkable teacher.” |
“Former New York singing teacher Derek Graydon is convinced that 85% of singing is psychological, insisting there is hardly anyone he can not teach." From an interview in “Rona Barrett's Hollywood Magazine” |
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“There are good teachers and there are great teachers. Derek is a great teacher. He is the only singing teacher I ever recommend.” |
“Within just a few classes Derek had students singing with more range, power and less effort.” Philip Burton Director American Musical and Dramatic Academy - New York City |
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“I was madly impressed by his vocal technique and impressive vocal exercises.” |
“Mr. Graydon's teaching years are marked with a richly satisfying command that reflects the master he has become.” Blanche Thebom Leading Mezzo - Metropolitan Opera |
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“Graydon heals all kinds of damage caused from improper singing through proper singing.” |
“I studied singing in London with Derek. He taught me more about freeing, controlling and projecting my voice than any teacher I ever had.” Jud Myers Winner of The London Evening Standard Award as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet with The Royal Shakespeare Company. |
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“This prodigiously gifted teacher is one of the most compelling artists at work in teaching today.” |
“Derek never short changes his students. He puts them completely at ease - runs overtime if he can.” Beth Howland Amy in musical Company - Broadway Vera on TV's Alice |
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“Local soprano Joëlle Michelini who has been studying under the vocal whip of teacher Derek Graydon for 8 years, makes her debut as Violetta in “La Traviata” at the Nice Opera House in France next month.” |
“What an honor it was to have Derek on our staff.” Sorel Carson Director Academy of Live & Recorded Arts - London |
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“Derek's teaching career is the story of great promise fulfilled brilliantly.” |
“A magnificently vivid teacher with superb vocal technique, uncanny knowledge of singing and such idiomatic authority and know-how." Milla Andrew Leading Soprano - Royal Opera London |
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“Derek Graydon says he can get the breaks out of a voice within a half an hour and is no stranger to the singer who comes in with the wrong training.” |
“I couldn't believe how quickly Derek put my voice together!” Sonia Leslie The Lion King - Broadway |
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“Simply the best!” |
“It would be a smaller, much less thrilling teaching universe without him.” Alfred Newman Music Director for over 70 films Winner of 9 Oscars - 45 nominations |
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