Grammy-Nominated Artist Opens 'One-Stop Shop For Performance'

Kate Hart said she loves “the vibe” of Berkley. Jumping on a ferry recently from Harsens Island at the mouth of the St. Clair River, she talked excitedly about opening the Holistic Voice Institute, at 2769 Coolidge Highway, in April. Despite being mid-transit, she said she was happy to be getting a lot of calls and attention. “This is my life,” she said happily.

“When I was looking to open the studio, I thought, 'if I just can find something in Berkley.' And I did,” she said. “It's a great spot. There are a lot of artists and it's just a very creative place.”

Known as “the belting coach,” Hart said she wanted space for a studio that would allow students to learn how to get in touch with their core voice without damaging their vocal folds. The studio offers voice performing classes, such as guitar, piano, music theory, bass, drums, beat boxing, acting and dancing (all styles), as well as yoga, massage, diction, music industry 101 (getting your kids into the business), songwriting and voice-over training.

“The philosophy is people are empowered by their voice,” she said. “Our specialty is connecting people to that voice.”

Hart, who is from Detroit, moved to Seattle in 1985 and began a prestigious career, earning awards and releasing a Grammy-nominated debut solo album, Tonight I Want It All. In 2000 she released Queen of the Night along with the double Grammy-nominated rock album Lucy Mongrel featuring her alter ego.

“So, I had a career on West Coast,” she said. “But when I came back here in 2002, things really rocked and rolled.”

Hart also has taught in Royal Oak, at Michigan Actor's Studio in Ferndale and at She has trained singers at every age, from Uncle Cracker’s back-up singers, to lawyers, business executives, broadcasters and college graduates getting ready for their auditions.

Hart said the studio employs seven regular teachers, including Lisa Melinn of Berkley, who specializes in voice-over training. Hart and Melinn provide the only voice-over training site in Michigan. During these courses, students often are exposed to voice-over for the first time and enter into the field with training provided at the studio, Melinn said.

Melinn focuses on the acting side of the voice-over, teaching the student to become a character behind the voice, while Hart focuses on voice warmups and training. A six-week course provides training, a demo, set-up appointment and a reduced rate for headshots, as well as exposure on the Voiceover Network's website. Visit the Michigan Voiceover Network for more information.

Melinn is no stranger to performance and teaching.

She has performed in both the Mainstage and Touring companies of The Second City/Detroit, starred as Tina in Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding and has appeared in dozens of regional and national television commercials. She has taught classes and workshops for Farmington Hills Schools, Oakland Community College, The Jewish Community Center of Oak Park, Birmingham School’s Super Summer and The Second City/Detroit.

She currently serves as the Educational Director for Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company and as the Program Director for Water Works Theatre Company’s KidsAct! summer program.

Melinn said a great thing about the Holistic Voice Institute is that it is a family-friendly environment and parents are welcome to hang out in the studio or stroll down Coolidge during training sessions.

Some of the classes offered the summer include:

• Performance Camp: 9 a.m. - noon, Mondays through Fridays

• Qi-Gong: 6 p.m. Mondays

• Yoga: Noon-1 p.m. Thursdays

• Voice lessons, acting classes, audition coaching, voice-over training: by appointment 

“It's just a one-stop shop for performance,” Melinn said. “Someone could get every kind of training they need all right here.”

To schedule an appointment, call the studio at 248-439-1400 or call Hart at 248-460-3568. For more information, visit www.katehart.com or www.michiganvoiceovertalent.com.