LEARNTO SINGANDPLAY .COM
CANANGELA BOYD ROBERTSON
Canangela Boyd-Robertson is a professionally, trained
vocal coach and keyboard instructor. Her musical studies
began at the age of eight with formal instruction on piano
and progressed to formal study of voice at age twelve. Even
as a teenager, Canangela recognized her love for teaching
music. By the age of thirteen, she was managing a private
piano studio, Boyd's Music, in an effort to meet the need for
instruction in her community. Today, the vision of
Boyd's Music, Inc. continues to inspire opportunities for
others to learn, perform and create music.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance from Spelman College where she graduated with honors. During her tenure at Spelman, she rendered works from classical to contemporary styles. In recognition of her scholarship, she has received numerous awards including the United Negro College Fund/Janet Jackson Scholarship for Excellence in the Arts, and the DeWitt Wallace Community Service Award.
Canangela was chosen as a member of the Institute for the Recruitment of Teachers for excellence in Education and received her Master of Music Education degree from the University of Rhode Island. While attending the University of Rhode Island, Canangela earned both a teaching assistantship and fellowship. She also received a summer fellowship to begin research in the field of African-American music.
Upon graduation, Canangela spent two years as Director of the Choral Music Department at Clarkston High School in the DeKalb County School System where she more than doubled the size of the choral department. She has also served on faculty at Morris Brown College as a humanities lecturer in the arts, as Artistic Director for the Cathedral Academy Music Conservatory, and as Director of the high school and middle school choral programs for the Cathedral Academy.
Her concern for music education in the schools led her to a panel discussion held by the Atlanta Chapter of the Recording Academy where she met Jan Smith, a well-respected vocal coach. It was during this time that Canangela sought the direction of Jan Smith as a vocal coach to further her own progression as a vocalist. Recognizing Canangela's professional background and training, Ms. Smith asked Canangela to become an associate with Jan Smith Studios marking the beginnings of what would become a seven-year business relationship. Her skills and diversity have enabled her to offer top-notch training catering to the needs of contemporary vocalists from all walks of today’s music industry. She has worked with artists associated with SoSo Def Recordings, NME Records, the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts and various other labels and management companies. Further, she has served the Atlanta recording industry as a panalist for "Grammy in the Schools" and the Atlantis Music Conference.
Canangela has offered her performing talents to a number of organizations including Turner Broadcasting’s “Trumpet Awards,” The Atlanta Community Chorus, “The Atlanta Passion Play,” Gospel group “Restoration,” The University of Rhode Island Big Band, and the Spelman College Jazz Ensemble and Glee Club. In addition to her work in music performance, Canangela has worked as a professional model and actress with clientele including Krystal Franchises, The Museum of Music, Dark and Lovely Hair Care products by Carson, and an independent film project entitled “What are the Odds.” She was also featured in the documentary film “Crowns and Gowns” honoring the legacy of Queens for the all-male Morehouse College.
Currently, Canangela offers her talents to the gopsel singing group "Prayz" as a lead vocalist and keyboardist for the band. Her work with "Prayz" has taken her to churches and missions groups locally and in Europe. As a pianist, soloist, and director, Canangela has served at various churches both in the United States and abroad. She also serves as a praise and worship leader for Streetwise Ministries which offers worship service to the residents of Bowen Homes Housing Community in Atlanta, Georgia. Her specialized approach for teaching Gospel and Contemporary Christian artists has created a niche for her as the vocal trainer of choice for many church praise teams and worship leaders.
Canangela has served as an advocate for the arts and education as a member of the South DeKalb Arts Consortium, as a representative for the United Negro College Fund rendering speeches as a Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation scholar, and for Spelman College. Furthermore, she was chosen as Miss Morehouse College 1992-1993 and as Miss Mississippi T.E.E.N. 1990-1991. Her mission is to continue impacting the community through the arts and education by coordinating programs for the arts, performing, teaching, and producing materials pertaining to music and education. Her love for teaching continues to inspire many others to pursue careers in the music industry, education, and related fields.
