What is Co-Vo?

Co-Vo is short for Community Vocalizing: guided vocal exercise routines that classical singers join, live, via Zoom. All Co-Vo vocal workouts are conducted in real time and help singers keep their voices in shape while building new technical skills from the comfort of home. Each session is:

  • Joined in real time by members of the classical singing community, both professionals and amateurs, from all over the world

  • Led by master voice teacher Dr. Julia Nielsen, who provides instruction and support throughout each workout

  • A live, interactive experience

Registration-based Co-Vo workouts and seminars are also available on video for 30 days (or more) after each live event!

Who Co-Vocalizes?

Co-Vo participants are classical singers from all around the country. These singers are at all levels of vocal development, from professional soloists, opera singers, and choristers, to community chorus members, church and synagogue choir members, and voice students. And we are growing.
Organizations whose singers participate

What Singers are Saying?

  • Dr. Nielsen’s warm presence, engaging exercises, and vast knowledge of technique make these sessions incredibly helpful to me, both vocally and mentally. I never expected my technique to improve, but because of Co-Vo, it has. And it’s such a treat to see old singer friends and the rest of the Co-Vo community each week!

    Deborah U.
    San Francisco Bach Choir
    San Francisco Symphony Chorus
    San Francisco Choral Artists

  • Julia embodies both generosity and expertise. Her Co-Vo workouts are a wonderful way to stay inspired and active, and her seminars on breath support and vibrato have taught me more than years of instruction and practice. She is a singer’s best friend.

    Anne J.
    San Francisco Symphony Chorus
    San Luis Obispo Master Chorale

  • What a treat! To be able to work out with such a skilled voice teacher (a voice teacher of voice teachers) is such an honor. I always feel uplifted at the end of the sessions.

    Rich G.
    San Francisco Symphony Chorus
    San Francisco Choral Society
    Lamplighters

  • Julia has created a community that spans the miles, keeping us connected in our love of singing. Twice a week, we two sisters get to sing together, despite being separated by nearly 900 miles. We spend a most enjoyable 30 minutes vocalizing, caring for our voices. Julia is a superb teacher and an encouraging, entertaining coach who gives such helpful advice for improving our technique. We are immensely grateful to her.

    Diane M. and Marilyn D.
    Masterworks Chorale and Skagit Valley Chorale

  • Co-Vo is the best, a great vocal workout in 30 minutes. Dr. Nielsen infuses our half hour together with her expertise, joy, humor, and enthusiasm. Always a pleasure. Thank you!

    Deborah L.
    Marin Oratorio
    Marin Symphony Chorus

  • I am a professional singer who has studied privately with the wonderful Dr. Julia and found myself, like so many singers, silenced by the Covid shutdown. Dr. Julia has been a beacon in the darkness for a huge number of grateful singers who join her weekly for Co-Vo and a positive shot in the arm!

    Gale B.
    San Francisco, CA

  • Since beginning Co-Vo sessions with Julia, my aging voice has made some definite improvements in range and agility; I feel the difference after each session. The Resonance workshop helped me project my voice better, to my amazement (though in singing duets with my dog, she still tends to drown me out). I enjoy the Co-Vo sessions, which Julia makes a lot of fun, and the result is improved self-esteem and quality of life. Much praise to Julia for doing this noble work!

    Sandy M.
    Santa Rosa, CA

  • Dr. Julia Nielsen is a superb human being. She makes her teaching lessons enjoyable while imparting a great amount of knowledge. Her uplifting spirit is contagious which facilitates deep learning.

    Joaquin S., Ph.D
    Santa Rosa, CA

  • The regular workout sessions with Julia were a godsend —not only is she an amazing vocal teacher, nurturing and knowledgeable, but she has a seemingly infinite bag of tricks, to make each session fresh and new.

    Alexandra A.
    San Francisco Bach Choir
    Consort Chorale
    Harvard University Choir

 Co-Vo Workouts

Co-Vo Original

30-minute general vocal exercise routines to keep your voice in shape

Level: All Levels
Times: Mon. & Wed. 6-6:30 PM (PT)
Cost: Free (Always)
More info

Co-Vo Fundamentals

45-minute vocal exercise routines that focus on developing or practicing a fundamental technical skill

Level: Beginning to Advanced
Times: Multiple offerings
Cost: $20 per session
(Discounted multi-session passes available)

Co-Vo Pro

45-minute vocal exercise routines that explore a specialized vocal topic, skill, or voice fach; for professional and advanced singers

Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Times: Multiple offerings
Cost: $20 per session
(Discounted multi-session passes available)

Spotlight Seminars

 

Spotlight Seminars are 2- to 3-hour programs—delivered live, via Zoom, and sometimes in a series—that focus in depth on a specialized vocal topic, and allow participants to sing vocal exercises that address that topic.

Level: All levels

 

Co-Vo Participants Sing with:

  • American Bach Soloists

  • Anacortes United Methodist Choir

  • Bay Shore Lyric Opera

  • Berkeley Community Chamber Singers

  • Berkeley Community Chorus

  • Berkeley Women's Community Chorus

  • Broadway by the Bay

  • California Bach Society

  • Calvary Presbyterian Church

  • Cantiamo Sonoma

  • Cantico Singers

  • Capital Chorale

  • Chapel Choir of St. John

  • Chorosynthesis

  • Christ Episcopal Church, Tacoma, WA

  • Cinnabar Theater

  • Clark College Treble Chorale

  • De Anza Chorale

  • Dickens Christmas Fair

  • Dolores Park Church Choir

  • Dominican University Chorale

  • Elmhurst Choral Union

  • Encore Chorale

  • Fog City Harmonia

  • Fog City Singers

  • Free Spirits Gospel Choir

  • Gallimaufry

  • Great River Chorale

  • Heart & Soul

  • Indianapolis Symphonic Choir

  • Isthmus Vocal Ensemble

  • Kalamazoo Singers

  • LA Master Chorale

  • Lamplighters

  • Madison Chamber Choir

  • Marin Oratorio

  • Marin Symphony Chorus

  • Masterworks Chorale

  • Mayfield Singers

  • Mendocino Music Festival Chorus

  • Metropolitan Opera

  • Opera Cocktales

  • Opera Parallèle

 

  • Opera San Jose

  • Peninsula Community Chorus

  • Peninsula Women’s Chorus

  • Philharmonia Baroque Chorale

  • Pocket Opera

  • Portland Bach Cantata Choir

  • Reprise Choir

  • Resounding Achord

  • San Francisco Bach Choir

  • San Francisco City Chorus

  • San Francisco Choral Society

  • San Francisco Opera Chorus

  • San Francisco Playhouse

  • San Francisco Symphony Chorus

  • Santa Cruz Chorale

  • Schola Cantorum

  • Seattle Opera

  • Serenade

  • SFCM Musical Theatre Workshop

  • SFCM Musical Theatre Ensemble Workshop

  • SFCM Performance Lab

  • Sherwood Voices for the Performing Arts

  • Skagit Valley Chorale

  • Sonoma Bach Choir

  • St. Andrew's Lutheran Church Choir

  • St. Luke's Episcopal Church Choir

  • St. Mary Magdalen Choir

  • Stanford Symphonic Chorus

  • Teatro Mistral

  • The Choral Project

  • Third Angle New Music

  • Tonality

  • Touch of Class Chorale

  • Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Choir

  • Trinity Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir

  • Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Choir

  • University of Michigan Choral Union

  • Vallejo Choral Society

  • Vintage Singers

  • Volti

  • Vox Femina, Los Angeles

  • Washtenaw Chorale

  • West Bay Opera