Our philosophy is to provide a space in which students can be fully seen and heard. Our teachers are kind, empowering, and inspirational. We want students to feel comfortable and challenged at the same time. And when students do step out of their comfort zone, as they must to grow, we give them our full love and support.
Instructors
IVA (Emily Samson Tepe) is a “supremely talented" award-winning international singer, songwriter, opera singer, and elite vocal coach with over 25 years of experience. Trained at Princeton, Juilliard, and the Manhattan School of Music, her own performance career spans albums with Universal Sweden, the Royal Opera of Stockholm, appearing on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and earning features in Billboard and on NPR. She is a Fulbright Scholar and the youngest-ever recipient of the Vasa Order’s "Swedish American of the Year" award - laureates include Ann Margret & Buzz Aldrin.
As a dedicated educator, IVA has served on the faculty of The New School and runs a thriving private studio spanning New York, Paris, national and international clients. She specializes in artist development, songwriting, and multiple vocal techniques to help students find their authentic voice. Her students consistently achieve elite success, securing admission to top institutions like Juilliard and Berklee, winning prestigious grants, releasing their own records, and landing starring roles on TV, in film, and on Broadway (including The Lion King, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Phantom of the Opera).
IVA
(Voice, Piano, Artistic Development)
Asha Jené is a classically-trained singer who is known for her unique mezzo-soprano voice that draws in the listener with its warm and sultry qualities. A native of Brooklyn, Asha discovered that singing was her passion at the age of three.
She later continued her singing career at Fiorello H. LaGuardia Arts High School as a vocal major where she performed in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers and Victor Herbert’s Naughty Marietta. Asha then furthered her studies at NYU, where she graduated with a degree in Vocal Performance, specializing in Classical Voice. Asha’s credits include Parable of The Sower-An Opera, her portrayal of Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro, Hairspray!, and more!
Asha feels blessed to have been given the ability to sing. She thanks God for all of her wonderful opportunities and is always excited to share her gift. ashajene.com
ASHA JENÉ
(Voice)
Camille Natta graduated from Oxford University, where she won the Spirit of Cuppers Award for her performance and directorial debut in What the Butler Saw. She acted in several films in London and performed in multiple plays in Paris, including productions at the prestigious La Cartoucherie and Le Theatre de la Tempete, where she worked with acclaimed director Philippe Adrien.
She was the female lead opposite Jean Reno and Christopher Lee in the cult favorite Crimson Rivers 2; the lead in the independent feature Hari Om, which was shot entirely in Rajasthan, India; recently worked opposite Zoe Saldana in Nina and is a series regular in the web series Sexpectations. Most recently, she played Luise Rainer—who won the 1936 Academy Award for Best Actress—in Ryan Murphy’s new series Hollywood, currently streaming on Netflix. Alongside award-winning director Erick Zonca (The Dreamlife of Angels), Natta was collaborating director and co-writer on the feature thriller Julia, which was nominated for the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and starred Tilda Swinton. Camille has worked with Larry Moss in LA, Sue Cowen from RADA in London, Teatre de Complicité in London, Steve Calfa in Paris, Jack Waltzer in London (Dustin Hoffman, John Voight, Marlon Brando) and Judith Weston (“Directing Actors”), Margie Haber, Liz Howard (voice), as well as DaJuan Johnson for audition technique.
Since completing the UCLA Professional Screenwriting Program, Natta has been living in Los Angeles while raising two young children. She has done voiceover work, recently performing Rooney Mara’s role in Terrence Malick’s Song to Song, and has collaborated on several multi-media installations. Her latest work with photographer Linda Tuloup is part of the permanent collection at the MEP in Paris.
Camille offers acting lessons and teaches audition technique, which is especially important for today’s virtual auditions, so students can land roles and be confident in vocal competitions.
Camille Natta
(Acting)
Geoff Bennington is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and teacher based in New York City. Drawing from his experience in touring indie rock bands as well as his training in classical composition, he has developed a reputation as a versatile instrumentalist with the ability to play fluidly in a number of genres.
Playing since he was 10 years old, Geoff developed his passion for guitar playing in the vibrant DIY scene of northern New Jersey in the late 90’s and early aughts. He continued his musical education at the University of Rochester, graduating with a degree in music composition. He began teaching during this time and has since held teaching positions at the University of Vermont Summer Studies, The Lake Champlain Waldorf School, Music on the Move and Puca Music as well as teaching his own private lessons. Following his move to NYC in 2011, he has been the manager of Rivington Guitars, developing an extensive knowledge of vintage and current guitar gear that he brings into his lessons as well as his performances. His own project, Gillian, has released 3 albums that have received accolades from the likes of SPIN Magazine and Consequence of Sound among others. He is also the lead guitar player for Jeremy and the Harlequins and has toured with them throughout the US and the UK.
Geoff Bennington
(Guitar)
Hendrik Helmer is an award-winning guitarist, producer, recording artist, and master teacher with over four decades of professional musical experience. Holding a BFA in Jazz from the Conservatory Hogeschool Enschede, Helmer’s versatile career spans from extensive European tours to the stages of iconic New York institutions like Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. As a highly sought-after guitarist across genres like rock, jazz, and classical, he has collaborated with major global artists including Madonna, Carly Simon, and Wyclef Jean, alongside legendary session musicians like John Patitucci and Vinnie Colaiuta.
Beyond performing, Helmer is an accomplished producer and dedicated educator. He co-runs a top-tier recording studio in Dumbo, Brooklyn through Hefaproductions.com, recently producing and co-writing the band project Vampire Time, which earned a top-10 spot on the National Radio Internet charts, over 1.5 million YouTube views, and multiple 2026 Independent Music Network nominations. Committed to mentoring the next generation, Helmer also leverages his vast industry knowledge to coach and teach musicians, having been associated with prestigious institutions such as Juilliard and the Berklee College of Music.
Hendrik Helmer
(Guitar)
Emi Knight is a songwriter from the Ohio River Valley. She discovered her passion for singing and writing music at a young age, making up songs and harmonizing to music on the radio with her dad on long drives. Emi took up the guitar when she was 7 and her second-grade teacher taught her to strum along to folk songs, traditionals, and church hymns in Madison, Indiana. Songwriting guided Emi through her teenage years, touring on the Midwest and East Coast DIY/Indie circuit as a band leader. Her music later led her to Denver, CO where her band Strawberry Runners came to life, headlining local venues and opening for bands like Mitski, Hop Along, The Fruit Bats, The Felice Brothers, Lvl Up, The Sidekicks, Nathaniel Rateliff, and The Lumineers.
While in Denver, she studied Art, Play, and Narrative Therapies, earning her BA in Songwriting, Creative Therapy, and Music Management at Goddard College. Over the years she has taught art and music to all ages in various environments, from alternative education settings like Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio-Emilio, and free schools, to urban and rural public schools, summer camps, community education, and private lessons. Drawing from the methodologies of each, as well as her therapeutic background, she developed her unique student-centered pedagogy and therapeutic teaching approach. She sees songwriting and band leadership as not only expressions of creativity, but as lenses to view our internal and external worlds and tools for vibrant growth through transition and trauma. She recently moved to Brooklyn and is eager to share her love of songwriting and band leadership with students at her studio in Brooklyn or remotely.
Emi Knight
(Songwriting/Voice/Guitar)
Kaitlyn Diehl was born a creative soul and is very passionate about helping others realize their artistic dreams. She began piano lessons and ear-training at the age of 6, and has been singing and writing songs ever since. At age 11 she picked up the Oboe, and by age 14 she began learning to play guitar, inspired by Taylor Swift, Avril Lavigne, and other young singer-songwriters.
Kaitlyn took her love of voice and imagination to the stage with musical theatre, where she discovered a passion for acting. She has since obtained a minor in Theatre Performance from the University of Delaware and will complete the 2.5-year Meisner acting technique program at Playhouse West in Philadelphia in the Fall of 2023. Kaitlyn has performed in several musicals, short films, feature films, web series, and commercials in lead and supporting roles. She has studied extensively under IVA for Vocals and Alexander Technique, and continues to hone her artistic voice through songwriting, acting, and performing.
Kaitlyn Diehl
(Acting and Singing)
Maybelle Keyser-Butson is a Brooklyn born-and-raised Barnard graduate who loves singing, songwriting, and playing guitar. An alumni of the IVA Voice and Music studio, Maybelle is passionate about the mind, body, and voice connection and brings this awareness to her musical and teaching practices.
Maybelle has recorded a two song EP with Brooklyn based producer and fellow IVA teacher Geoff Bennington. She is currently based in Paris, teaching English to middle and high schoolers at Lycée Henri IV and deepening her artistic practice.
Maybelle Keyser-Butson
(Voice)