About Your Teacher
Caitlyn Sarafa
Voice Teacher · Marigold Voice Studio
I've sung on stages, survived vocal surgery, and come out the other side. And that journey shapes every lesson I teach.
My Story
Why I teach the way I teach
Music has been a constant thread throughout my life. From as young as 3-years-old, I knew that singing was my passion. But it was the moment I began studying the voice scientifically that everything changed. During my Master's in Voice Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Colorado-Boulder, I discovered that understanding the anatomy behind singing didn't make the art feel clinical, it actually allowed for my artistry to shine even brighter. For the first time, I wasn't just following instructions. I understood why they worked, and that changed how I sang, how I listened, and ultimately how I teach.
In 2022, that conviction was tested in a deeply personal way. I was diagnosed with a vocal cyst that required surgery, followed by months of speech therapy and singing-based voice rehabilitation. It was humbling, frightening, and — ultimately — one of the most important experiences of my career. It showed me firsthand just how much technique matters, not as a set of rules to follow, but as a genuine foundation that protects the voice over a lifetime. It also showed me that injuries happen to singers just like they happen to every other athlete. And that, with the right support, singers can heal, learn, and come back stronger than before.
That experience is at the heart of why I opened Marigold Voice Studio. I wanted to create a space where students are taught not just what to do, but why. Here, solid technique is built from the ground up, vocal health is treated as a priority from day one, and no one has to navigate an injury alone. Whether you're a child discovering your voice for the first time, an adult returning to singing after years away, or someone rebuilding after a vocal injury, my goal is the same: to help you understand your instrument, trust your body, and sing with confidence, freedom, and joy.>
My Approach
Teaching voices from the inside out
Most singers are taught what to do. At Marigold, I teach you why — because understanding how your voice actually works is the most empowering thing a singer can have. If you know what it feels like to sing well, that can more easily be repeated than if you just know what it sounds like to sing well.
Every lesson I teach is grounded in vocal anatomy and speech language science, translated into language and exercises that are accessible, practical, and specific to each student. No guesswork. No unnecessary strain. Just efficient, healthy, joyful singing.
This approach shapes both programs at the studio — Private Voice Lessons for singers of all ages, and Little Lark, an early childhood music program for ages 3–7 that introduces healthy vocal habits from the very beginning; along with music literacy skills that kids get from piano or other instrument study.
Education & Credentials
Background & Training
Education
B.M. in Vocal Performance and Minor in Linguistics, University of Michigan
M.M. in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy, University of Colorado-Boulder
Specializations
Alexander Technique, Speech Language Science informed teaching, early childhood music instruction, Musical Theater (belt and mix), Classical/Opera
Performance
Opera productions: Poppea in L'incoronatione di Poppea, Mutter in Hansel und Gretel, Nannetta in Falstaff, Chorus of La Boheme and scene work
Choral Work: Soprano Soloist in Mozart's Regina Coeli, Soprano Soloist in Faure's Requium
Teaching Experience
Three years of teaching expereince spanning across 40+ students ranging from 7-years-old to 65-years-old.
Based In
Birmingham, Michigan — serving students in-person
"Every child has a voice worth finding. Every singer has a voice worth understanding."
Whether you're a first-time singer, a seasoned performer, or the parent of a curious three-year-old — I'd love to meet you. Reach out anytime to ask questions, book a trial, or just start a conversation.