One-year Anniversary Celebrating Hummingbird Conservatory

The Hummingbird Conservatory in Montrose is celebrating its one-year anniversary and would like you to join them for a quick ribbon cutting and celebration on Tuesday, June 28 at noon. The Conservatory is located at 3531 Verdugo Road in Glendale 91208.

So what is the Hummingbird Conservatory? Here is what founder Tara McGrath had to say: “The Hummingbird Arts Conservatory, established in July 2015, is a small but mighty voice studio dedicated to the musical, vocal and artistic development of singers all ages, talent levels and genres. In addition, we look to promote art and creativity in the community by sponsoring local recitals, offering specialized art classes, performing masterclasses and having arts and crafts parties for kids and adults! At The Hummingbird Conservatory for the Arts we believe music and art are for everyone. We wish to create an environment where students can thrive. We want to enrich their musical and artistic journeys through access to highly trained faculty. We believe in providing performance and exhibition opportunities as well as resources to hire master musicians and artists. We foster love, respect and awareness of the arts so that they may continue.”

The founder, voice teacher and jewelry-making artist Tara McGrath holds dual Bachelors of Music degrees in vocal performance and music business from the Hartt School of Performing Arts. Her vocal training spans 22 years working with teachers across the classical, musical theater and pop genres. Combined with an eclectic performing career, including cabaret and theater in New York, operatic and recital performances, masterclasses, musical and dramatic acting and many, many, many auditions, Tara believes the prepared musician and singer is the successful one. Her technique works for all ages and is sensitive to all types and styles of voice. Tara lets each voice tell her where it wants to go, and builds it from there. In addition, she believes all singers and performers need a chance to do just that! Sing and perform. So she sponsors several conservatory recitals a year plus community recitals, masterclasses and more. Singers who work with her have won roles, been accepted to universities and have even made the cover of The Malibu Times!

In addition to private voice lessons, Tara has founded the Junior Divas Vocal Program, a 10-12 week course dedicated to honing the performing skills of talented 7 to 11 year olds. Students get to perform weekly for each other, are adjudicated in the jury process and, in addition to learning a variety of solos from the musical theater song book, work on diction, stage deportment, characterization and character development and vocal technique by offering one-on-one lesson time in addition to the weekly class.

Moving into its second year, The Hummingbird Conservatory will be doing a lot in the town of Montrose! In addition to a fall cabaret in September and a holiday sing spectacular in December, they will be expanding the Junior Divas program to encompass a longer term and more private lesson opportunities. They will be performing in community concerts, and will be offering a voice/acting workshop called Dark Faerie Tales beginning in September for a showcase in October. They will be rolling out their Hummingbird Puppet Opera Theatre and Tara will be creating a quarterly podcast called The Opera Bomb: Spending time with Singers of Song. They will also have more arts and crafts parties (come check them out before the Spooktacular!) and hope to continue building partnerships with the community, other non-profit organizations and singers everywhere! We hope to see you all at the ribbon cutting on June 28 at noon!

Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce: Your source for all things local! Our mission is to actively support and enrich the community, vitality and pride of Montrose, to help preserve the historic district and small town atmosphere, to promote economic stability and positive, productive relationships within Montrose and the surrounding communities.

  melinda clarke