Onella Piyatilake
Bachelor of Music from North Park University
Voice Instructor

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Onella Piyatilake is classically trained soprano and loves performing Baroque, Opera and Jazz around Chicago and Sri Lanka. 

Onella loves teaching and believes an enthusiastic and encouraging music environment go hand in hand to grow as a singer. 

When did you start singing? 
I began singing and competing in Sri Lanka at age 6.

Why do you sing?
I sing because it makes me so unbelievably happy and it gives me peace. It is such a big part of my life and helped me grow out of my shell as a child, and to this day I always find comfort in singing.
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​Why do you teach?
My goal is to help the student love the sound of their voice. Because singing has given me so much joy, I love sharing that joy with my students and I consider it an honor to embark on this experience with a student.
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What is your favorite teaching tool?
Mirrors!
A mirror tells us so many things about what our body is doing during singing and speaking. The main feature I love the most about a mirror is that it raises awareness.

How do you describe your lessons?
A lot of fun, filled with laughter and encouraging students to push themselves.