Francesca Dastrup

Hi, I’m Francesca! I am an energetic teacher, full of life, and I am very passionate about making music. I believe that music should be produced with the intention to touch each person who hears it. Music has been a healing tool in my life and I have loved the exchange between me and the audience when they receive my gift as a performer. I’m fortunate that I also love to teach and I can confidently say that I’m a very fine teacher; I am extremely detailed and want to make sure that all of my students are well rounded musicians.

I started playing piano at the very young age of 3 and then shortly after that I started taking violin lessons; I continued with both instruments through High school. Around that time I decided I wanted to pursue singing and postpone violin lessons. I grew up singing in choirs and throughout school, and was totally inspired when going to see the musical, South Pacific at Gammage in Tempe AZ; That night I knew I wanted to be a singer! I got serious in HS developing my technique, went to regional choir and State my freshman year, and placed 1st in STATE as a junior for voice. I pursued piano first for my Bachelors degree in college all the while singing in all the choirs at ASU and taking voice lessons on the side. A year and a half after graduating from my piano degree, (during that time I built a house and built a music studio) I went back to ASU to pursue a Masters of Arts in Musical Theater/Opera Performance.

I have taught piano since 6th grade and was mentored by great teachers along the way and I practiced this art of teaching and perfected it! I started teaching voice shortly after finishing my Masters degree in 2008 and continue to teach both and music theory.

I very much love to perform, but even more I love to teach! Share the knowledge that was so lovingly given to me over the years and make sure that this legacy continues.

Music Qualifications & Achievements:

I am a concert pianist & vocalist and a master teacher of both arts. I holds a Master of Music Degree in MUSICAL THEATER/OPERA PERFORMANCE , from Arizona State University, and a Bachelors degree in PIANO PERFORMANCE from ASU as well.

My PIANO teachers include the brilliant Robert Hamilton, a pupil of Horowitz, Dr. Irene Perry-Fox, Dr. Caio Pagano, Manuela Pagano, Dr. Andrew Campbell, and Dr. Hamilton Tesscarolo.

I am a brilliant SINGER. My vocal teachers include one of Broadway’s finest and current artists, Tregony Shephard, Judy May, Darlene Kliewer-Britton, and Jaime Jordan.

I do studio work for FILMS, done collaborations for the LINCOLN CENTER in NYC, STAGE work with ORCHESTRAS, as well as my own recordings.

I have participated in MUSICAL THEATER shows such as West Side Story, Carousel, Sound of Music, THe Phantom of the Opera, Fiddler on the Roof, Joseph and the Technicolor Dream-coat, Godspell, The Christmas Schooner, & others.

I am a skilled ACCOMPANIST/COLLABORATIVE ARTIST, PIANIST and SANG for the movie soundtrack Compulsive Gambling, a documentary by Rick Rabe. I was awarded the Katherine Herberger Scholarship for piano performance at ASU. I acted as an honors judge and the graduating senior’s advisor for Arizona Study Program, an honors and scholarship program sponsored by the Music Teachers National Association. I am a member of MTNA.

Francesca has served as the MUSIC DIRECTOR for her community church. Her service included being the CONDUCTING CHORALS, ACCOMPANYING for soloists, playing the ORGAN, and planning the music for each weekly service.