Lilla Szász is a music educator, speaker, writer and former opera singer, turned worship singer.
Her mission is to help raise up worshipers and give them the tools to worship in their homes and communities, transforming their lives as well as others around them.
Her greatest passion is to see others grow in their gifting and purpose, flourish in freedom and confidence in their identity in Christ, and walk in the victory that has been won on the cross.
Lilla has enjoyed teaching individuals of various ages, levels and styles, with students ranging from the absolute beginner to the most well-advanced.
Her unique and tailored approach to learning focuses on helping each student overcome their individual obstacles and discover the strengths of their unique instrument.
She works towards developing confidence, authenticity, healthy technique, and strives to create a friendly and supportive environment, tailoring each lesson to help students reach their individual goals.
Her students have performed and appeared at Carnegie Hall, American Idol, America's Got Talent, The Voice, CBS Morning News, NBC News, and has coached individuals for TV, commercials, worship teams, voice over, studio recording, interviews, radio, podcast, book writing and public speaking.
A graduate of the Juilliard School (B.M., M.M.) and winner of the Juilliard Honor's Recital, Lilla studied vocal performance and pedagogy under the tutelages of Cynthia Hoffmann, Dr. Virginia Allen, and Marlena Malas, vocal coach and mentor of Pavarotti.
Lilla's been featured in Business Insider, WQXR Radio, Alive Magazine, CBS Morning News, NBC News, truTV, Seen & Heard International, Opera Today, and has won critical and international acclaim for her "appealing sound, agile coloratura and oversize wit." - The New York Times
She's performed on stage at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall and has traveled around the globe to perform and study in Israel, Austria, Germany, Italy, France and Canada. In 2019 she was a leading judge for more than 2,000 performers at the Mid Atlantic Music Teachers Guild Competition.
Lilla's performed on stage with the Saint Louis Symphony, Wallingford Symphony Orchestra, Israeli Chamber Orchestra, Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, Juilliard415 Baroque Orchestra led by Maestro William Christie and Juilliard Orchestra led by Maestro Alan Gilbert, among others.
She's received Recognition of Excellence from the Tri-M Music Honors Society and has won the American Prize Competition (1st Prize), Joy in Singing Competition, Metropolitan Opera National Council Eastern District Competition, National Society for Arts and Letters Vocal Competition (1st Prize), Amato Opera Competition, Giulio Gari International Competition, NJ Teachers Association Competition (1st Place), Music Teacher's National Association Competition (1st Place), among many others.
Previous roles include Lucinde in Gluck’s Armide in a Metropolitan Opera & Juilliard Opera co production, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro at Opera on the Avalon, Ella Burling in Tobias Picker’s Emmeline with the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Noémie in Cendrillon with Juilliard Opera under the baton of Emmanuel Villaume, Belinda in Dido and Aeneas, Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief – all with Juilliard Opera. Additionally, she has covered Georgette in La Rondine and Costanza in Riccardo Primo (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis), Sophiein Der Rosenkavalier and Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore (Chautauqua), Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Zhou in Kommilitonen, and Drusilla in L’Incoronazione di Poppea (Juilliard).