Dr. Taylor Ferranti earned an undergraduate degree in Vocal Performance from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, a master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the Boston Conservatory, and a doctoral degree in Vocal Performance & Voice Science from Louisiana State University. He also holds the Certificate of Vocology from the National Center for Voice and Speech in Denver, CO. An accomplished vocal pedagogue, singer, pianist, conductor, and music director, he formerly served as a tenured Associate Professor of Music at Cedarville University in Ohio.

A versatile musician, Taylor has sung leading tenor roles in opera and music theater, served as a minister of music in several churches, and even had the opportunity to sing backup vocals for pop star Billy Joel. His teachers have included several international authorities in the field of voice and voice science, including Dr. Stephen Austin, Dr. Ingo Titze, Professor Oren Brown, and Cornelius L. Reid.

He has musically directed numerous productions in the Naples area, including 13 The Musical, All Shook Up, School of Rock, West Side Story, Grease, Newsies, and Chicago. He currently serves as a full-time Associate Professor of Music and Chair of the Music Department at Ave Maria University. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Music Foundation of Greater Naples.

 

Laura Ferranti earned her B.M.E. and M.M. degrees from Louisiana State University. Her music teaching experience includes seven years as a music specialist in Baton Rouge, LA; Miamisburg, OH; The Village School; and First Baptist Academy in Naples, FL. She served as Assistant Professor of Music at Cedarville University for three years, where her responsibilities included teaching courses in elementary music education and aural skills, supervising student teachers, and serving as the faculty advisor for the collegiate chapter of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). Laura also holds Level 1 certification in Orff-Schulwerk from Miami University and is an active member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS).

Laura’s operatic performances include the roles of Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Bertha in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the Principessa in Suor Angelica. She has also performed with the esteemed Ohio Light Opera Company and the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Houston.

A sought-after music director in the Naples area, Laura has directed numerous musicals at local theaters (Naples Performing Arts Center and Gulfshore Playhouse) and high schools (Seacrest Country Day School and First Baptist Academy), including All Shook Up, 13 The Musical, West Side Story, School of Rock, Grease, Newsies, The Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins JR, Matilda, Frozen JR, Anastasia, Cinderella, and Chicago.

She is a 2024 Joan Frey Boytim Award for Independent Teacher Fellowship recipient and serves on the Board of Directors of the Music Foundation of Greater Naples.