Michael Popovsky - Owner/Voice Instructor
Michael Popovsky graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 2007 with degrees in Music and Business. While there, Michael directed various shows and vocal and instrumental ensembles while studying voice with world-renowned soprano Gweynne Geyer. He also received many accolades while at F&M including the Hugh Gault award for musical excellence and 1st place in the Solo/Concerto Competition for two straight years. Since graduating, Michael has continued his vocal studies with John Darrenkamp (formerly with the MET) and Dr. Thomas Houser.
As a performer, Michael has enjoyed performing with such companies as Opera Naples, Opera Seabrook, Fulton Theatre, Ephrata Performing Arts Center and more. Favorite roles include Harold Hill (Music Man), Schaunard (La Boheme) and Lesgles (Les Mis) to name a few. He also frequently performs as a soloist for local organizations and events. Michael has also been the musical director for performances of Cabaret, Urinetown, Little Shop of Horrors and many others.
As the founder of Popovsky Studio, Michael has been thrilled to see his studio grow from a small private voice studio into a full-fledged performing arts academy, giving students the opportunity to learn about singing and performing and to allow the love to the art to grow. For more information on Michael, please visit www.michaelpopovsky.com
Debra Macut - Acting Instructor
Debra Macut holds a BA in drama and psychology from Franklin and Marshall College and an MFA in Acting from Catholic University of America. Ms. Macut is also a proud member of the Actors' Equity Association (AEA). Ms. Macut has enjoyed a successful career in professional theatre, having performed throughout the U.S. This includes a 10 year residency at Stage One in Louisville, Ky. and a world premiere production of "The Great Gilly Hopkins" at the New Victory Theatre on Broadway, in which she originated the role of Maime Trotter. Debra also has experience with industrial work including film, commercials, and voice-overs.
Ms. Macut's teaching background is extensive, with over 20 years of experience including workshops on general acting, children's theatre, and Shakespeare. Debra has taught college level courses at Indiana University Southeast and acting for young people at Harrisburg Area Community College and Penn State Harrisburg.
Jennifer Lobo
Jennifer Lobo is excited to bring her passion and expertise to Popovsky Performing Arts Studio. As a quintessential musical theatre performer, her wide-ranging background brings a wealth of experience to draw upon and share with her students. Her degrees include classical voice training at Gettysburg College (BA, Music) and Music Theatre/Voice Performance at New York University's Steinhart School (MA). She recently completed her Level II certification in the Somatic Voice Method with Jeannie LoVetri at Shenandoah University. This pedagogy is a technique based in singing Contemporary Commercial music (CCM styles include music theatre, jazz, rock, pop, country). Jennifer has taught private voice for over 10 years, served as an adjunct voice professor at NYU, and was most recently on the faculty at the PA Academy of Music.
During Jennifer's lifelong career in musical theatre, her favorite roles include Clara (Light in the Piazza), Florence (Chess), Sally (You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown), Jeannie (Hair), and Sgt. Sarah Brown (Guys and Dolls). While in New York, Jennifer worked with Rachael Sheinkin (lyricist of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), and performed in the World Premiere of Blood and Other Humours, a 3-part musical theatre piece, directed by John Simpkins. Jennifer also traveled all over America with the interactive children's theatre show, Arithmetickles!
Classically, Jennifer has studied with Jeffrey Fahnestock, Dianna Heldman, Julian Rodescu, and Michael Douglas Jones. She has sung with Singing City in Philadelphia, and locally with OperaLancaster. She studied jazz at Temple University and has performed throughout Europe with the Buzz Jones Big Band. Locally, The Jen Lobo Trio can be heard around town with Mark Huber on the piano and Steve Meashey on bass. Jennifer's large education and community outreach background began while working at The Philadelphia Orchestra and continued at Manhattan School of Music in New York City.
Jennifer is a certified teacher of Music Together®, an internationally recognized early childhood music program for youngsters from infants to 5 year olds and their caregivers. Based on the recognition that all children are musical, the program encourages children to move, dance, sing, and play instruments.
Kathy Becker
Kathy is excited to begin teaching Music Together at Popovsky Performing Arts Studio this fall. In addition to taking voice and acting classes at the studio, she enjoys playing violin and performing in musicals. She has a degree in Elementary Education from Millersville and experience coordinating activities for young children. She has 2 sons and she is truly grateful for the positive impact Music Together has had on her family. Kathy looks forward to sharing her love of music with the Music Together families.
John Darrenkamp
John Darrenkamp began his operatic career with the Lancaster Opera Workshop in 1957 and stayed with them until 1965. John was awarded a 4 year scholarship at The Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, and sang numerous compramario roles with The Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company while at School.
In 1969, John Darrenkamp made his professional debut in Barcelona singing Manon and Maria Stuarda.
He joined New York City Opera Company in 1969 and sang leading roles with them for 7 years.
He sang in the Community Concert Series with Columbia Artists for 10 years and sang concerts all over the United States and Canada.
John joined The Metropolitan Opera Company in 1979 and sang nearly 500 hundred performances with that company over a 22 year career.
He also sang with The Ambassadors of Opera in the Far East singing operatic scenes in Hong Kong, Seoul, Manilla, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.
John sang lead roles in the musicals Annie Get Your Gun, Brigadoon, Man of La Mancha and South Pacific. He has also acted the role of Dracula.
John has taught voice and opera at Vassar College and York College and taught voice for 20 years at The Pennsylvania Academy of Music in Lancaster, PA.
Since retiring from The Metropolitan Opera Company, he has directed opera for Opera Lancaster and the operas he has directed are The Elixir of Love, Pagliacci, Cavalleria Rusticanna, La Boheme and Tosca.
Sarah Timm
Bio Coming Soon...
Randall Frizado
Randall Frizado is a 25 year veteran of the Musical Theatre industry. He is a graduate of the prestigious American Musical and Dramatic Academy, where he was the winner of the Florence Bowler Vocal Scholarship. He studied with the acclaimed New York Metropolitan Opera Baritone Alan Bowers, whom he still studies with to this day. Randall's teaching focus always begins with the fundamental building blocks for the voice. Focusing on breath, posture, and vocal placement, he has had success with students interested in all vocal styles. He is a classically trained baritone, able to sing, and teach a variety of styles, with a vast working knowledge of all musical genres.
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