Musical Beginnings
Allison grew up in a musical family: both of her grandmothers played organ in Chicago & Europe, her father played jazz flute & bongos, her mother sang, and eclectic collections of music were always playing in the house. She begin harmonizing with the vacuum cleaner at age 3 and her parents encouraged her to join her church choir, Kenwood Academy Concert Choir, and Chicago Children's Choir, where she was a member from age 6-18. Through the Chicago Children's Choir, Allison's musicality expanded as well as having a taste of performing globally.
MUSICAL STUDIES
After her long choral training, Allison continued on her musical journey. She received her B.M. at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana under the tutelage of Dr. Ollie Watts Davis as a coloratura concert soprano. That fall, she moved to NYC, studied at NYU in their Musical Theatre program and received her Master's in Music (M.M) at Steinhardt. While she was studying at NYU, she was adjunct Voice Faculty and had a studio 19 private voice students per semester and taught a group voice classes.
Musical performance
With multiple genres of music styles and a Bachelors & Master's of Music under her belt, she began auditioning in the Big Apple. She began performing in regional theaters: Dreamgirls, Bubbling Brown Sugar, The Wiz , The Color Purple National Tour, Soul: The Stax Musical, OoBlaDee, Shout Sister, Little Shop of Horrors at the Kennedy Center. She finally graced the Broadway stage, first in the Hit Show "The Book of Mormon" and starred in "Motown the Musical" as Diana Ross in the Broadway National 1st & 2nd National Tour, then as the starring role on the return to Broadway!
Musical Teaching
Coming from a long line of educators, teaching is not only in Allison's blood, but it is a passion of hers. She believes that life experience paired with education is the BEST teacher. Allison is currently adjunct faculty at Los Angeles College of Music, has coached the children of Motown Legend- Stevie Wonder, and teaching online private lessons. She has had over 60 private students at NYU, and has facilitated musical theater masterclasses with grammar and high school students all over the country She created an after school musical theater program in underserved communities in Brooklyn & The Bronx. With her "Holistic Singing" technique, she incorporates mindfulness, yoga, healthy vocal technique and emotional connection to the art of vocal performance!