My Journey Through Berklee’s Professional Certificate in Voice

It was long and demanding, but I did it. I’m officially a certificate holder from Berklee College of Music’s Online Division. When I enrolled, I wanted to push myself, challenge my assumptions, and grow as both a vocalist and a teacher. What I didn’t expect was how much this program would reshape the way I think about singing altogether.

Before Berklee, I cut my teeth in the opera world. My foundation was built under the guidance of a ninety-year-old Italian maestro, Mario Laurenti. He taught the way the old masters did. No textbooks. No diagrams. No jargon. Just the work. Just the doing. You sang, he listened, he corrected. He carried decades of knowledge in his ear, not in a binder. Those years shaped my voice and my identity. They taught me discipline, consistency, and the deep physical connection required to sing at a high level.

But the training was experiential, not pedagogical. It was craft passed down through lineage, not broken down into the technical language that modern teachers use. As I began coaching singers myself, I realized I wanted to understand the voice from every angle — not just the artistic and experiential side, but the academic and technical side as well. I wanted to honor where I came from while also expanding my tools so I could help more singers with clarity, precision, and depth.

That’s why I chose Berklee.

The certificate took me through three major genres: RnB, Pop/Rock, and Jazz. Each course unpacked the specific techniques, habits, and stylistic demands that make those genres what they are. RnB taught me nuance and soulful agility. Pop/Rock demanded clarity, power, and edge. Jazz opened a world of phrasing, improvisation, and tonal exploration. It stretched me in ways classical training never had, and it gave me language for things I had only understood instinctively before.

It wasn’t easy. Berklee holds its students to a high standard. The assignments required real focus, the feedback was honest, and balancing it all with life and music made the process even more meaningful. But the growth was undeniable. I walked away with a deeper understanding of my voice, a broader stylistic palette, and a clearer pedagogical framework for teaching singers from every background.

The biggest takeaway? Technique and artistry are two sides of the same coin. The Maestro gave me the soul, the discipline, and the instinct. Berklee gave me the framework, the vocabulary, and the technical clarity to communicate that knowledge effectively.

The combination made me a better singer — and a far better coach.

This certificate represents more than coursework. It marks a chapter of growth, expansion, and a bridge between the old world and the new. And I use that knowledge every single day to help my students unlock their own voices with confidence and purpose.

— Johnny Ray