By Norm Harris
“My theatrical activities and deep attachment and commitment to music stem in part from my family roots,” said Queens musician and teacher Susan Agin.
Perhaps it would be fair say that the vivacious, multi-talented songstress, Flushing Town Hall technical director and house manager who is a newly confirmed cantor, Off-Broadway choreographer and director, has dug deep in those roots to expand her creative horizons.
Her musical background included her parents and their multiple siblings, all of whom were deeply involved in music for the sheer love of it. Some just played music for fun while others were formally trained on instruments and the classics. Her grandmother on her father’s side was a professional singer of some fame.
Born and raised in Queens, Agin, now “37 years old and loving it,” has come along way since she started studying music at the age of 4 and performing in her first musical at 7.
Queens residents may have seen the Flushing native Agin with her remote headset on moving the acts along and clocking the performances at Flushing Town Hall in the main stage theater, and others may have been lucky to see and hear her on national television singing the National Anthem for the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.
She has choreographed, directed and co-produced past productions such as “All Tuned Up,” for which she received rave reviews from Time Out New York and Newsday. “ Susan Agin belts ’em out with a voice perfectly suited for musical comedy,” a past reviewer wrote.
In a recent interview, Agin sat down to talk about her latest foray into vocal coaching. Though she has several ongoing theatrical projects in the works, Agin is currently focusing her vocal and stage experience to helping others achieve their dreams.
Working with her partner Carlos Ponce, who takes care of the arranging and orchestration aspects of the training program, Agin tries to impart her wisdom to the students she teaches.
“In this business, you have to be involved in self-promotion and constantly reinventing yourself, or you have to sometimes be lucky enough to be given a chance to show your talent, but then you really must be ready with talent and be able to produce,” Agin said. She went on to say that her formal background and years of experience working in the school systems have also enabled her to be an effective voice coach for adults and younger hopefuls.
A music coach who has been able to keep working based largely upon word of mouth, Agin has worked for years with up-and-comers. Some of them have sought her out in order to become properly prepared to perform at auditions and perhaps enter competitions like that of the reality series called “American Idol.”
“The program I offer is intended to provide people who are young or older with a chance to be involved in the hands-on process of how to prepare for a career in the singing aspect of the entertainment industry,” she said.
Her total package includes three important phases of the training: voice coaching, presentation techniques and an opportunity to record in a state-of-the-art studio. The final product is, in essence, a promotional piece they can use on auditions.
Agin said she has a sincere and deep commitment toward excellence and success backed by natural artistic talent, years of training, practical experience and, of course, paying her dues along the way.
Agin can be reached for consultation pertaining to voice coaching or other aspects of theatrical presentation, by first going to her web site at www.susanagin.com.
