2026 STATE CONFERENCE
V O I C E W O R K S H O P
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2026
with Adria Firestone
COORDINATOR: Wennie Nai-Yueh Niu
LOCATION: Princeton Theological Seminary
PRESENTATION: “Every Voice Deserves to SHINE -
Why Music Matters Far Beyond the Stage”
Every human being wants to SHINE: to be Seen, Heard, Included, Nurtured, and Empowered. In this inspiring and experiential presentation, international award-winning performer, educator, and Reinvention Architect™ Adria Firestone invites young singers, parents, and teachers to discover how the study of music, and especially the human voice, helps fulfill these essential human needs.
Drawing on more than forty years as a performer and over twenty-three years as a university educator, Adria explores why vocal study matters far beyond auditions, competitions, and professional careers. Through storytelling, reflection, and shared experiences of breath and sound, she reveals how singing develops confidence, courage, connection, presence, and authentic expression.
Whether a young singer ultimately performs professionally or follows an entirely different path, the voice they discover belongs to them for life.
MASTER CLASS PERFORMER SELECTION:
Active NJMTA voice teachers who participate in NJMTA events may nominate one student from their studio for consideration. Six students will be selected to perform in the Master Class, with the goal of representing a variety of studios and providing a meaningful learning experience for all workshop participants.
SCHEDULE
1:30pm - 2:00pm Registration & Warm Up
2:00pm - 4:00pm Master Class
4:00pm - 5:00pm “Every Voice Deserves to SHINE
Why Music Matters Far Beyond the Stage”
5:00pm - 5:15pm Meet the Artist
FEES
Nominated Master Class Performers $120
Workshop Attendees $45
Teachers Registration $60
*All fees are non-refundable.
Deadlines:
October 21: Master Class Performer Nomination Deadline & Repertoire Submission Deadline, including accompaniment part
October 28: Selected Performer Registration
November 6: Workshop Attendee Registration Deadline
adria firestone
Adria Firestone is an international performer, university educator, keynote speaker, and artist mentor whose career has spanned more than four decades across opera, musical theatre, concert performance, teaching, and professional development. Her performance career has taken her to major stages in the United States and abroad, where she has built a reputation for combining strong technique, dramatic intelligence, and a deeply human connection to the work.
For more than two decades, Adria has also brought that professional experience into the university classroom, teaching voice, acting, movement, speech for performance, stage presence, career development, and the practical skills emerging artists need to build sustainable lives in the profession. Her work with students, performers, and professionals is grounded in the belief that technique and craft matter deeply - but the artist behind the work matters most.
Today, Adria's work also includes keynote speaking, workshops, master classes, and private mentoring for artists navigating growth, transition, reinvention, and the business realities of a creative life. Whether she is working with a young performer finding their voice, a seasoned artist entering a new chapter, or a room full of students preparing to enter the profession, she brings clarity, honesty, experience, and a fierce commitment to helping artists step fully into who they are becoming.