ABOUT us!
Hey, we’re Amy and Christina. We both started our musical paths as “classically trained” singers but have since become “classically untrained”. What does that mean? It means we whole-heartedly believe that cross-training and learning to use your voice in multiple styles is a healthy, practical approach to becoming a professional performer in our modern world.
Think of it this way - when someone majors in dance, they don’t just study ballet. They study jazz, tap, modern, hip-hop, etc. With that wide range of skill, they can hop into any dance scenario and be marketable!
It’s the same for singers and teachers of singing in this day and age - we need as many tools in our collective toolboxes as possible in order to achieve our personal and professional goals.
Join us as we help you become classically untrained!
Christina Casey Ray
Praised for her "velvety mezzo" (OperaWire), Christina Ray is equally at home on the choral, operatic, concert, and musical theatre stages. Highlights of her many stage experiences include Mrs. Splinters in Aaron Copland's The Tender Land and Ms. Lark in Mary Poppins with Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, Béatrice in Béatrice et Bénédict, with Landlocked Opera, Celeste #1 in Sunday in the Park with George, Ramiro in Mozart's La finta giardiniera, Hänsel from Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel. And who could forget the Rossini ladies, Rosina, Isabella, and Angelina?
Christina’s endless fascination for the human voice and all of the ways it can be utilized in singing many styles has led her to many continuing education endeavors. Most recently she completed a certification course in CCM/MT Voice Function 101 with Shenandoah University Professor, Maddie Tarbox. Christina gathers all of the tools she can find to help singers and teachers find and borrow the tools they need to succeed on the stage and in the studio.
Christina and her husband, Dr. Jonathan Ray are the Founding General and Artistic Directors of boutique opera company, Landlocked Opera. Landlocked Opera makes opera accessible to our community by celebrating historic operas while championing new works, ideas, and artists. Believing strongly in breaking down barriers and opera stereotypes, Landlocked Opera’s motto is "Opera for All.”
Christina is a board member for the Mid-MO NATS Chapter and is an adjunct voice faculty at the University of Missouri and Central Methodist University. Christina received her Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from MU, a Master of Music in vocal performance from LSU and an Artist Certificate from UMKC.
Christina is proud and blessed for all of the roles she plays in life and on stage, but her favorite role of all time is being Lucy’s mommy. Christina and her family enjoy singing, hiking, playing with their cats, Churro and Gravy, and watching horrible reality TV shows.
Amy johns
Soprano Amy Johns has performed roles such as Laurie in Oklahoma!, Anna in The Consul, Madame Thénardier in Les Mis, Mrs. Harcourt in Anything Goes (Maples Summer Rep) and joined the ensembles in productions such as The Corps of Discovery, Grease, The Sound of Music, Godspell, Suor Angelica, and Die Fledermaus. Amy has also been engaged as a soloist on many occasions, performing the soprano solo in Haydn’s Little Organ Mass during a tour of Austria and most recently was a guest soloist for the Midwest premier of Considering Matthew Shepherd.
Amy has an avid interest in vocal pedagogy and is active in conferences, workshops, and professional organizations related to the field, such as the National Association of Teachers of Singing, where she is currently serving as President of the Mid-Missouri NATS chapter. Over the years, students of Ms. Johns have consistently placed in national competitions in classical, musical theater, and spiritual categories, garnered acceptance into and roles in young artist programs such as the Chicago Lyric Summer Opera program and Opera in the Ozarks, and been accepted to prestigious graduate schools.
She received both her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music and Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from University of Missouri – Columbia, studying with renowned teachers Ann Harrell and Costanza Cuccaro. Currently, Amy serves as Assistant Professor of Music at Central Methodist University where she teaches applied voice lessons along with other voice-related courses. Previously, she served as Instructor of Music at Columbia College and has also spent time teaching as an adjunct faculty at Stephens College and Moberly Area Community College. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking with her dog, and cross-stitching.
