Anyone who has witnessed the consummate talent of Lina Koutrakos recognizes that she is indeed a force - a persistent Pied Piper presence who with both heart and skill subtly drives home messages teeming with universal empowerment. From Singer / Songwriter to Director / Performance Coach Koutrakos' authenticity inspires nothing short of the same in others.
Anyone who has witnessed the consummate talent of Lina Koutrakos recognizes that she is indeed a force - a persistent Pied Piper presence who with both heart and skill subtly drives home messages teeming with universal empowerment. From Singer / Songwriter to Director / Performance Coach Koutrakos' authenticity inspires nothing short of the same in others.
DIRECTING
MASTER CLASSES
WORKSHOPS
With numerous awards as Director, Koutrakos builds a framework that showcases who an individual is while weaving that into an honest, entertaining and seamless show for the solo singer. With both instinct and skill Lina fine focuses each singers vision of themselves into a one of kind performance. From the music and the spoken word to the arc of the piece itself, every show is highly crafted for and unique to its performer.
A group of between 8-12 singers with Koutrakos at the helm and an acclaimed pianist/arranger at the keys. These are customized workshops based on each groups level of experience, its location and the time allotted. All workshops are designed to help the singer make a stronger connection to both the song and the audience and to become more and more themselves on stage and on purpose!
These are larger groups, designed much like the Master Classes that take 20 singers. (by audition only) These workshops have a staff of guest teachers and are a designated 3 day weekend in various locations throughout the country. All full workshop weekends culminate in a participants performance. There are also specialized Workshop Weekends (see below) happening throughout the year.
WEB CLASSES
Ideally you will need a USB microphone (Blue Yeti is great), headphones and tracks/arrangements (Mp3's you have downloaded to your cpu) Not prefabricated karaoke tracks! If you do not have anything let me know and I will help you hook up with talented folks to start that part of your musical journey. Both revisiting old songs (tracks) and trying new things are welcome. Most of you who will want to join us already have some great stuff to work with and on.
You will have to be able to join us on Zoom and a computer or ipad are the best way to do all of this with a digital microphone.
The only thing I have asked of them is to wear pants.
2023 Annual Master Classes & Workshops
CHICAGO
Puerto Vallarta
GREECE
Details & Schedual
CHICAGO
Date : June 9, 10 & 11 2023
Status : Open
THE 2023 MIDWEST CABARET CONFERENCE
WE ARE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE A NEW FORMAT TO THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE THAT OFFERS 2 SEPARATE SESSIONS.
EACH SESSION IS ACCPETING 10 SINGERS.
For Singers who have participated in the conference MULTIPLE times
Saturday June 11th 2p.m- 6p.m
Sunday June 12th 10a.m-5p.m
You will be working with Beckie Menzie, Lina Koutrakos and a TRIO (piano, bass, drums) all weekend. You will perform with the trio Sunday June 12th 7p.m
For Singers who are NEWER to us and/or cabaret
You will be chosen by Audition only.
Friday June 10th 10a.m- 5p.m
Saturday June 11th 10a.m- 2p.m
You will work exclusively with Beckie Menzie and Lina Koutrakos. You will perform with Beckie Menzie on the piano on
Sunday June 12th 7p.m
ALL PARTICIPANTS will be part of the Sunday Night Show
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Date : January 2024
Status : Open
"Lets get outta Here!"
A few of my directorial clients and 2 of my favorite arranger/players swear by handful of great
clubs and a particular strip of beach in PV in the winter.
With water, sun, deep breathing and music available why would any of us say "no".
This is our second "Lets get out of here" in the dead of winter retreat. So looking forward to it!
NEW YORK
Date : Winter / Spring 2023
Status :
Open
This long running (9 months out of the year) workshop takes place every Saturday at Don’t Tell Mamas. A three hour class where singers bring in their own performance agendas and often craft their shows with pianists, director Lina Koutrakos and the “built in audience” of the other class members in 10 -12 week sessions. Contact us directly for details on how to get on a waiting list for this class.
Mykonos, Greece
Date : September 16 to 23, 2023
Status : Open
A one week workshop on the Greek island of Mykonos in its 8th year. In a private villa surrounded on 3 sides by the Aegean Sea. With 4 hours of performance workshopping per day,10 singers, 4 cars at your disposal, your own pool and magnificent outdoor space for coffee in the sun and dinner under the nearly overwhelming stars and Mykonian moon. Breakfast and lunch included in your stay. This passionate Mediterranean country is a magical place to make music. The week is not designed like a sleep-away camp with activities all day long, this is a grown up vacation to be enjoyed as you see fit in these glorious surroundings. Folks come back again and again because it's something very special....something with a touch of...well...magic.
NEW YORK
Specialty Workshops
"IN THE STUDIO"
City : NEW YORK
Recording Studio Workshop
Date : April 26 & 27, 2023 with Sean Harkness
Date : May 30 & 31, 2023 with Ted Firth
Status : OPEN
We are so excited about what we have created we are happy to keep them coming. Having started this in Portsmouth, Rhode Island with the late, great Mike Renzi at the keys and discovering it as such a magnificent experience, we are doing it in New York with the amazing Tedd Firth at the piano and just added our first with Sean Harkness on guitar.
Teaching "Studio" from a singer's point of view I am heading up these workshops with the goal of letting you know what you can expect from not only this process but your finished product. How to talk, sing, and work with the engineers and musicians there to help you. On my 8th album I realize that through all of them I was finding my way and learning the ropes and I would have LOVED to have had a seasoned recording SINGER showing me in a few days what took me a bit more time to learn. Alongside engineer Nik Chinboukis at the wonderful SPIN Studios we promise you this will give you -in 2 days- what it might take years to realize with a beautifully played, mixed and mastered, ready-to-go album-ready track. Learning from your own work as well as listening to others as we set the song , rehearse, record and mix your tune.
Many singers are taking more than one of these workshops and well on their way to what will be their EP and/or album.
A wonderful extension of your live performances with top notch musicians and engineers at your disposal.
Limited to 8 singers.
By Audition only
In Concert
City : NEW YORK
Date : To Be Announced 2023
Status : Open
From “I know its only rock and roll” to “I’m with the Band” to “Soul” Rick Jensen and Lina Koutrakos took 10 singers, 20 unique arrangements in classic genres and put them on their feet with and without a band. There have been 3 different “In Concerts” so far. Stay tuned to the site for auditions and the next “In Concert” theme announcement.
About : Lina Koutrakos Master Teacher
Lina started teaching performance classes in the 1990's. She was a long time Master Teacher at the original EUGENE O'NEILL CABARET SYMPOSIUM, THE YALE CABARET CONFERENCE and the ST LOUIS CABARET CONFERENCE.
She co-founded NY's SUMMER IN THE CITY and is the founder of the annual and ongoing MIDWEST CABARET CONFERENCE in Chicago. Along with Robert Breig she has just launched THE GATEWAY CONFERENCE in St Louis.
Lina has spearheaded specialty workshops and Master Classes throughout the U.S. Most prominent being the IN CONCERT Series. Koutrakos's PERFORMANCE CONNECTION umbrellas THE ADVANCED PERFORMERS WORKSHOP in NY City and the now yearly week long workshop in MYKONOS Greece each September.
(photo) The Virginia Theatre Association
On a career oriented panel with Lin Manuel Miranda to over 200 High School and College Theater Students
© LINA KOUTRAKOS 2023