Mezzo-Soprano Lisa Hinz-Johnson has taught private voice and piano for almost 40 years. She was a piano and voice faculty member of the Reed Music Studios in Onalaska, Wisconsin, from 1987-1989 and, following her move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, was a voice instructor at Adrian College for two years. Lisa served as Director of Music and Voice Instructor at the non-profit Chelsea Center for the Arts from 1994-2014. Lisa and her husband Steven Hinz, co-founded CCA in 1994, later receiving a special commendation for excellence in arts education from Governor Jennifer Granholm.
Currently, Lisa maintains a thriving private voice and piano studio in Chelsea, Michigan, where she teaches students ranging from age five through adult. An accomplished pianist, Lisa is both vocal instructor and vocal coach, also serving as accompanist, language coach, and song interpretation coach to her students. She was the assistant director of Chelsea High School’s Company C for nearly 30 years, as well as its show arranger. Healthy singing habits and techniques, along with varied and vocally appropriate repertoire are the focus in private and group voice lessons, where classical, musical theatre, folk, jazz, blues, and pop genres are tailored to individual students. Repertoire focus ranges from contemporary commercial music (CCM) to classical music, and everything in between. Lisa is a multi-instrumentalist (piano, harp, guitar, mandolin, French Horn, hammered dulcimer, flute, baroque recorders, saxophone) and often uses many of these instruments as accompanying tools in private lessons. She is also a composer/arranger and lyricist and offers private lessons and workshops geared toward singer-songwriters. Her students focus on building a solid foundation of technique, musicianship, sight-reading skills, theory & ear-training, and becoming vivid story-tellers through their music. She has a passion for teaching students of all levels, children through adults, and creates a warm, positive environment in which her students can thrive and learn.
As a private voice instructor, Lisa’s students are consistently placed in the country’s top music schools, and her middle and high school students earn highest ratings at voice competitions and festivals. Many of her students, past and present, have gone on to great success in opera, jazz and pop performance, music education, musical theater and Broadway, as well as theater and film.
Education, Career, and Awards
Lisa received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice Performance from Viterbo University in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and a Master of Music Degree in Voice from the University of Michigan. She is a double award winner at the Metropolitan Opera Auditions and has performed throughout Europe and the United States. Favorite operatic roles include Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro, the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Carmen. A devoted interpreter of art song, she is most passionate about Spanish art songs and German lieder. She is a multi-level, six-time Winner of the National Association of Teachers of Singing voice competition and recipient of the Jessye Norman Award for Voice. Lisa was named Wisconsin Singer of the Year in the NATS Artist Awards competition. Lisa is a passionate advocate for people with disabilities, and she uses her voice as an advocate for those affected by epilepsy, bleeding disorders, and autism. She lives in Southeastern Michigan with her husband, Steve, and their two children.