Work with us!
Chelsea Gidden (Associate Teacher)
Specialties: Musical Theater, Acting the Song, Audition and Callback Prep, Rep Coaching, Monologue/Scene work
A native of Baton Rouge, Chelsea is a graduate of the Conservatory at Baldwin Wallace University (recently named #1 in the 2018-2019 OnStage rankings for Best MT Program in the Country) with a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) – Music Theatre. Her studies included classical and Musical Theater vocal techniques, music theory/sight singing, acting for stage and screen, and a range of dance disciplines.
Chelsea was in the original cast of the First National Broadway Tour of Nice Work if You Can Get It, directed by Kathleen Marshall and David Eggers. She has also performed in numerous Off-Broadway and Fringe festival shows and has been seen in leading roles at regional theatres across the country. Locally, she has performed at Theatre Baton Rouge, Tulane Summer Lyric, Rivertown, and Ascension Community Theatre.
Chelsea spent 6+ years in the proverbial “trenches” of New York City, training, auditioning, attending endless callbacks, and working as a professional actor. She knows the business firsthand, and is well versed in the necessary skills and preparation for success — from local community theatre to college auditions to Broadway, and everything in between. She has trained with a variety of industry professionals, such as Joan Lader (vocal coaching), Tom Burke (voice), Sherri Sanders (Pop/Rock/Rep) and Matthew Corozine (Meisner), and has auditioned for dozens of casting directors and legendary Broadway artistic teams.
Her most recent local credits include: “The Narrator” in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and “Sister Robert Anne” in Nunsense at Rivertown Theaters, and “Yvette” in CLUE at Theatre Baton Rouge. Upcoming projects include a return to her habit as “Sister Robert Anne” for Nunsense 2 at Rivertown Theaters and setting sail as “Reno Sweeney” in Anything Goes at Theatre Baton Rouge.
Come study with Chelsea to… Get ready for your next audition or callback, expand your rep book with choices tailored to your voice, prepare for college auditions, dig deeper into the acting of your song in an authentic way, and/or conquer your vocal challenges!
Chelsea substitutes and team-teaches with Phyllis. She also teaches on Wednesday after 6pm and Sunday afternoons IN-PERSON.
Specialties: Musical Theater, Acting the Song, Audition and Callback Prep, Rep Coaching, Monologue/Scene work
A native of Baton Rouge, Chelsea is a graduate of the Conservatory at Baldwin Wallace University (recently named #1 in the 2018-2019 OnStage rankings for Best MT Program in the Country) with a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) – Music Theatre. Her studies included classical and Musical Theater vocal techniques, music theory/sight singing, acting for stage and screen, and a range of dance disciplines.
Chelsea was in the original cast of the First National Broadway Tour of Nice Work if You Can Get It, directed by Kathleen Marshall and David Eggers. She has also performed in numerous Off-Broadway and Fringe festival shows and has been seen in leading roles at regional theatres across the country. Locally, she has performed at Theatre Baton Rouge, Tulane Summer Lyric, Rivertown, and Ascension Community Theatre.
Chelsea spent 6+ years in the proverbial “trenches” of New York City, training, auditioning, attending endless callbacks, and working as a professional actor. She knows the business firsthand, and is well versed in the necessary skills and preparation for success — from local community theatre to college auditions to Broadway, and everything in between. She has trained with a variety of industry professionals, such as Joan Lader (vocal coaching), Tom Burke (voice), Sherri Sanders (Pop/Rock/Rep) and Matthew Corozine (Meisner), and has auditioned for dozens of casting directors and legendary Broadway artistic teams.
Her most recent local credits include: “The Narrator” in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and “Sister Robert Anne” in Nunsense at Rivertown Theaters, and “Yvette” in CLUE at Theatre Baton Rouge. Upcoming projects include a return to her habit as “Sister Robert Anne” for Nunsense 2 at Rivertown Theaters and setting sail as “Reno Sweeney” in Anything Goes at Theatre Baton Rouge.
Come study with Chelsea to… Get ready for your next audition or callback, expand your rep book with choices tailored to your voice, prepare for college auditions, dig deeper into the acting of your song in an authentic way, and/or conquer your vocal challenges!
Chelsea substitutes and team-teaches with Phyllis. She also teaches on Wednesday after 6pm and Sunday afternoons IN-PERSON.
Coryn Bourgeois (Associate Teacher)
Specialties: Pop/Rock, Musical Theatre, Acting
Coryn is extremely excited to be teaching voice lessons with Phyllis & Friends! She previously taught at Baton Rouge Music Studios, and is excited to embark on this new journey. Born and raised in St. Amant, Louisiana, Coryn graduated from Northwestern State University with a degree in Theatre (emphasis on Musical Theatre and Directing), and has been performing professionally in bands and as an independent artist since.
Coryn wants to encourage every vocal performer out there to be confident in themselves and their ability to sing as possible, as well as to encourage control and pitch correction and awareness. She loves to watch others grow in their love for music, and to share in the joy of musical theater and its many different performance opportunities! She’s a huge advocate for self educating, vocal health and is passionate about her cause.
Coryn teaches IN-PERSON or ONLINE Saturdays.
Specialties: Pop/Rock, Musical Theatre, Acting
Coryn is extremely excited to be teaching voice lessons with Phyllis & Friends! She previously taught at Baton Rouge Music Studios, and is excited to embark on this new journey. Born and raised in St. Amant, Louisiana, Coryn graduated from Northwestern State University with a degree in Theatre (emphasis on Musical Theatre and Directing), and has been performing professionally in bands and as an independent artist since.
Coryn wants to encourage every vocal performer out there to be confident in themselves and their ability to sing as possible, as well as to encourage control and pitch correction and awareness. She loves to watch others grow in their love for music, and to share in the joy of musical theater and its many different performance opportunities! She’s a huge advocate for self educating, vocal health and is passionate about her cause.
Coryn teaches IN-PERSON or ONLINE Saturdays.
Benjamin Morgan (ONLINE Associate Teacher)
Specialties: Technique, Male Changing Voice, Classical Rep
Benjamin is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in Music Education, concentration in voice, where he studied classical and musical theatre singing techniques. He is a Middle School Choir Director in Houston, Texas. While in Baton Rouge, he taught children's choir at Broadmoor United Methodist Church, was a visiting volunteer music teacher for Southdowns Elementary School, a substitute cantor and music director for the former St. Pius X Catholic Church, and a volunteer “reading buddy” at University Terrace Elementary School.
Benjamin has performed in a variety of locations in Louisiana and Internationally. Some of his recent roles include Daniel Buchanan in Street Scene, Le Théiére in L’enfant et Les Sortiléges, un giovanotto in La Rondine, and a chorus member in Le Nozze Di Figaro. Benjamin assistant musical directed Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka in the summer of 2019. He has also musical directed Unplugged and A Technicolor Promise with his church choir.
Benjamin was founding Secretary for the student chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (SNATS) and founding president for American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), both at LSU. He is also a member of National Association for Music Education (NAfME). He placed 3rd in the men’s upper division classical voice at NATS Regional Convention in 2018.
When Benjamin is not singing or playing piano, he enjoys practicing yoga.
Benjamin teaches Tuesday nights ONLINE.
Specialties: Technique, Male Changing Voice, Classical Rep
Benjamin is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in Music Education, concentration in voice, where he studied classical and musical theatre singing techniques. He is a Middle School Choir Director in Houston, Texas. While in Baton Rouge, he taught children's choir at Broadmoor United Methodist Church, was a visiting volunteer music teacher for Southdowns Elementary School, a substitute cantor and music director for the former St. Pius X Catholic Church, and a volunteer “reading buddy” at University Terrace Elementary School.
Benjamin has performed in a variety of locations in Louisiana and Internationally. Some of his recent roles include Daniel Buchanan in Street Scene, Le Théiére in L’enfant et Les Sortiléges, un giovanotto in La Rondine, and a chorus member in Le Nozze Di Figaro. Benjamin assistant musical directed Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka in the summer of 2019. He has also musical directed Unplugged and A Technicolor Promise with his church choir.
Benjamin was founding Secretary for the student chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (SNATS) and founding president for American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), both at LSU. He is also a member of National Association for Music Education (NAfME). He placed 3rd in the men’s upper division classical voice at NATS Regional Convention in 2018.
When Benjamin is not singing or playing piano, he enjoys practicing yoga.
Benjamin teaches Tuesday nights ONLINE.
Ben is extremely knowledgeable and a very detail oriented teacher. He really knows technique and helps me sound my best when singing. - C.W.
Phyllis Horridge (Studio Owner, Administrator, Master Teacher)
Specialties: Musical Theatre, Beginning Adults, Tween & Teens
Phyllis holds a Masters Degree in Music from George Mason University, and a Bachelors Degree in Music, with a minor in theatre, from Lynchburg College in Virginia.
Phyllis has performed and toured extensively all over the country, was selected to sing with the Washington National Opera at the age of 14, and performed Off-Broadway at the Drama Desk Award Winning York Theatre Company in New York City.
Phyllis has studied with many pioneers of Contemporary Commercial Music including Jeanie LoVetri and John Henny. She is certified in Somatic Voicework (sm), participated in the Summer Vocology Institute at The National Center for Voice and Speech with Dr. Ingo Titze, and trained in Estill Voice with Tom Burke. She has been actively involved in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and Actors Equity Association. She maintains membership in the Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television & Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), where she has worked on films including Ted, American Hustle, and Grown Ups 2; was regularly seen on ABC's hit drama Body of Proof; and appeared in national commercials for Titleist and Popeyes.
Phyllis is an award winning choir director, and served as adjudicator for events including the Alaska Music Theatre Festival, North Carolina NATS Student Auditions, Virginia Choral Directors Association District Choral Festival, Louisiana State 4-H Talent Competition, and the Stafford County Choral Society Scholarship competition. In 2008, she served as resident musical director for the Beechwood Theatre Company in Newport, Rhode Island.
Locally, Phyllis has been a part of Theatre Baton Rouge, Tulane Summer Lyric, The Manship Theatre, New Venture Theatre, Red Magnolia Theatre Company, and Ascension Community Theatre. She also enjoys social media, with over 100K followers on TikTok alone!
Phyllis teaches Monday through Friday IN-PERSON or ONLINE.
Specialties: Musical Theatre, Beginning Adults, Tween & Teens
Phyllis holds a Masters Degree in Music from George Mason University, and a Bachelors Degree in Music, with a minor in theatre, from Lynchburg College in Virginia.
Phyllis has performed and toured extensively all over the country, was selected to sing with the Washington National Opera at the age of 14, and performed Off-Broadway at the Drama Desk Award Winning York Theatre Company in New York City.
Phyllis has studied with many pioneers of Contemporary Commercial Music including Jeanie LoVetri and John Henny. She is certified in Somatic Voicework (sm), participated in the Summer Vocology Institute at The National Center for Voice and Speech with Dr. Ingo Titze, and trained in Estill Voice with Tom Burke. She has been actively involved in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and Actors Equity Association. She maintains membership in the Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television & Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), where she has worked on films including Ted, American Hustle, and Grown Ups 2; was regularly seen on ABC's hit drama Body of Proof; and appeared in national commercials for Titleist and Popeyes.
Phyllis is an award winning choir director, and served as adjudicator for events including the Alaska Music Theatre Festival, North Carolina NATS Student Auditions, Virginia Choral Directors Association District Choral Festival, Louisiana State 4-H Talent Competition, and the Stafford County Choral Society Scholarship competition. In 2008, she served as resident musical director for the Beechwood Theatre Company in Newport, Rhode Island.
Locally, Phyllis has been a part of Theatre Baton Rouge, Tulane Summer Lyric, The Manship Theatre, New Venture Theatre, Red Magnolia Theatre Company, and Ascension Community Theatre. She also enjoys social media, with over 100K followers on TikTok alone!
Phyllis teaches Monday through Friday IN-PERSON or ONLINE.
Phyllis is a fantastic teacher. She lives and loves her craft. I feel 100% comfortable singing in front of her as she offers instruction that is personalized for my vocal needs. Phyllis [also] ensures lessons are fun and informative. - Mackenzie
