Auckland
Singing Lessons | Choirs | Artist development, Aural Lessons, Ensemble Coaching, Drama Lessons, NCEA Music Tutoring, Online Lessons, Posture for Singers and Instrumentalists
Bio
Anna Kostina is a vocal teacher and mezzo-soprano with classical training from Russia, including studies in opera performance and vocal pedagogy.
She has experience as both a performer and teacher, with a background in opera and concert singing.
Anna is currently based in Auckland, New Zealand, where she works as a vocal teacher at Glenfield College, providing individual vocal tuition to students.
Teaching Info
Anna teaches using the Estill Voice Training® model, a structured and evidence-based approach to voice development.
This method focuses on understanding how the voice is physically produced and how different vocal qualities can be consciously controlled and coordinated. It helps singers develop reliable technique, vocal freedom, and stylistic flexibility.
Her teaching is primarily focused on contemporary singing styles (pop / contemporary / musical theatre).
She offers a supportive and attentive learning environment, where students feel safe to explore their voice without pressure or judgement. Her approach is responsive to individual needs, helping each singer develop at their own pace while building confidence and awareness.
She works with students of all levels — from beginners to advanced singers — as well as performers preparing for auditions, recordings, or live performances.
In lessons, Anna works on:
- building efficient vocal coordination using Estill principles
- developing breath management and support strategies
- reducing unnecessary tension in the voice and body
- expanding range, resonance, and stylistic control for contemporary singing
- improving consistency, tone, and performance confidence
Her approach combines technical clarity with practical application for contemporary repertoire, supporting singers in developing a healthy, flexible, and expressive voice.
For me, the lessons are hugely valuable because they allow me to express myself and explore my creativity and who I am. I like to think I am a creative person, but I don’t often express myself openly and honestly, maybe because I feel like I need to be polite or diplomatic, or I am worried about upsetting someone, or because I feel like I need to make other people comfortable. The singing lessons with Anna give me a way of exploring different emotions in a more honest, less filtered way and through songs that I like or find interesting. I think the most important aspect of our work together is about becoming more comfortable with expressing my emotions and learning to do this is a way that feels fun, honest and unguarded. When we have a lesson in which I am singing well, I feel happier, more relaxed and more confident afterwards. I also feel more in tune with my body and with the space I am in.
David
When I started lessons with Anna, I often felt tension in my voice, both when singing and even in speaking. I didn’t really understand what was happening technically, and I lacked confidence in how my voice would respond. Over time, I started to notice real changes. My voice feels much more free and responsive, and there is significantly less tension when I sing. Even my speaking voice feels easier and more natural. I’ve become much more aware of my voice and how I use it, and that awareness alone has changed how I approach singing. Things that used to feel difficult now feel more manageable and less forced. Most importantly, I feel much more confident when I sing. I’m not constantly worried about whether something will go wrong, and I can actually focus on expression instead of tension or control.
