Voice & Piano

A native of Sao Paulo - Brazil, Luana Soare (“Ms. Lulu”) holds a Bachelor of Music from the State University of New York at Potsdam with a double major in vocal performance and music business. A versatile educator, for the past 10 years, Luana has worked as a private piano and voice teacher, has taught early music education classes for children ages 6 months on, and has also worked with opera education outreach. Her past companies include Florida Grand Opera, Minnesota Opera and Gymboree Play and Learn. Lulu focuses on teaching children and teenagers and her students have been accepted into prestigious music festival such as The Juilliard School’s Summer program and Interlochen Music School of the Arts. They have also accomplished honorary distinctions through the Royal Conservatory of Music’s examinations. As a performer, Luana has appeared in productions around the world, including The Magic Flute (First Lady) with Lyric Opera Studio Weimar, The Marriage of Figaro (Marcelina) with Vienna-Tel Aviv Vocal Connection, Giulio Cesare (Cornelia) with Chicago Summer Opera, Hänsel und Gretel (Sandman) with the Manhattan Opera Studio and L’Etoile (Koukouli) and Die Fledermaus (ensemble) with the Crane Opera Ensemble. She found in the North shore of Chicago her home, and lives with her husband and Oscar, their Goldendoodle pup.

Hi! I’m Lulu!

“Hi, I’m Luana, but you can call me Lulu”. After over 10 years of teaching children, I always noticed a little shine in their eyes, every time I said that phrase. As if allowing them to call me something other than my name sent a message of proximity, familiarity and warmth. I believe in bringing my students close and have fun with them as we are learning together. I’m learning how to teach them, and they’re learning their chosen instrument. Children learn better if they don’t realize they’re learning and if the environment is playful. Music is a complex art, but it should be perceived as fun and simple. It’s no wonder the word “play” is used in reference to music. 

The most important lesson a young child can learn is to love playing an instrument, for that love will be carried through their lives. That same love will assist them through the challenges they may face in their musical studies. And that same love will keep them from quitting, which could be the most important lesson a child learns through an instrument. Determination, discipline and passion are life-long lessons that a child can learn through studying music. 

There’s a saying that adults that are very good with children are good because they know how to “go down to their levels”. I believe that there’s no more incorrect saying.  Adults that are good with children are excellent at “going up to their levels” because there’s no more fascinating and complex minds than the ones of a child. I look forward to discovering the complexity of each of them, working myself up through their high levels and guiding them through unmasking their true talents.”