Rising Stars: Meet Steve (Dr K) Kronauer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve (Dr K) Kronauer.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My voice discovered me at nine years old. I had a career as a child. The childhood agent was the manager for the Brady Bunch kids. He had me audition for and with great Hollywood stars, including Mikey Rooney and Vincent Price. I then went to the arts high school (boarding school) called Interlochen Arts Academy. My parents sacrificed to get me there and pay for this. I sang a number of wonderful concerts and was considered for on and off broadway shows. Then to the University of Michigan, where I worked on my skills as a conductor and singer, finishing with two master’s degrees in voice and conducting. After this, I went to Germany the year after the wall fell and experienced what was happening in Berlin firsthand as I moved in with my last German relative. I studied Bach with the best of the best.

Eventually, I moved to Munich, Germany to study with one of the greater known Bach tenors. I was fortunate to get hired as the youngest singer to be hired at the Munich Opera. Once there, I asked all the greatest singers how they did what they did. I ended up meeting mentors who guided me as a singer and a teacher. Those are the skills that have taught me what great music and singing is about. I was amidst the best in the industry. I learned about what to hear as a teacher and what to teach in general. Then I moved back to the States to make sure my parents would be taken care of as I was the last remaining family member. I started teaching voice in Germany, and my first student found me and convinced me to teach. She became very successful. That was the beginning of my teaching. I then helped many singers until the day I decided to move to the USA. I started my doctorate work at UCLA. I started teaching and during my course of studies I started teaching and various universities, finally the last one was Cal State Long Beach. My private studio has always done well, thankfully. My most famous students have been Billie Eilish and Finneas.

Some other students d4VD and new sensation with over a billion listeners on one song. I’ve been teaching well-known Grammy-winning jazz singers as well as well-known opera singers and singers of all styles. One of my passions is a position I have with the LA Children’s Chorus, where I lead an ensemble of about 40 young guys that I guide through the voice change. It’s an amazing opportunity to recall my experiences as a boy soprano and give the guidance that I lacked back in the day. LACC is an amazing organization as well. Another passion I have is for the choral ensemble Artes Vocales, where I pass vocal guidance to singers and conduct the best of SATB choral music. We offer at this 501c3 which we formed chances for professionals to get footing and be heard, act as mentors and be both an influence to the audience as well as the other members of the choir. They also can find work as probate teachers and keep Themselves afloat amidst the tough world of the professional music business. It’s a joy for me.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The hardest thing has been the family loss since I’ve been singing. My brother died while I was singing at the Munich Opera and singing oratorios around Europe, then not wanting to be absent from my parents lives as they aged I moved to CA and started my doctorate at UCLA. A few years later, my mother passed watching TV, and then my father learned of his ALS and struggles with cancer. It was wonderful that he could see the premiere of the Young Men’s Ensemble at the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus. The sense of loss weighed a lot on my soul, and I’ve grown to see every day as a gift. Career-wise, it’s always a struggle in the arts to keep your idealism at the forefront in the face of a tough business. All in all, I’ve been lucky and thankful I get to do what I love, help Forward life for others and myself. My mantra. I’ve been fortunately teaching some of the most creative people, which keeps me alive and full of this joy. I’m lucky!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love teaching voice and the art of learning from our own bodies how to sing is inspirational a potential Spiritual journey to find your voice, every voice is like a finger print so unique and wonderfully connected to the person finding ones own individual way of self expression through music and song. I sang opera in Germany, and while I was at the Munich Opera, I started teaching as I had a person who heard me sing tell me that she wanted to take lessons from me. I stated I don’t teach, but somehow she was able to convince me. Next thing I knew, she was getting major opportunities, and others wanted to study with me. I’ve been teaching ever since. I love working with creatives in all forms and have had the joy of teaching a few of the most famous singers in the world. The fame is less interesting than the creativity these students possess (all students), guiding them through voice technique and specific elements of vocal health to find self-expression and freedom artistically.

I also conduct two ensembles with an emphasis on vocal technique. Artes Vocales and mixed ensemble SATB and The Young Men’s Ensemble of the LA Children’s Chorus. They both embrace my passion for technique and full self-expression. The young Men’s Ensemble is something I’ll always hold dear to my heart as I was a boy soprano and needed guidance through my voice change, I strive to give confidence to these young gentlemen and a sense of finding their new found range after the voice change. The organizations are both inspiring to me, the children’s chorus serves over 500 kids 40 of which sing in this changed voice ensemble. The guys learn a great deal about voice techniques and gorgeous choral music, as well as solo repertoire.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Tenacity and picking myself up. I guess you’d call it resilience. I’ve had wonderful highs and some really tough lows, I guess they have taught me that while we are in this planet we are here to learn and share throughout it all.

Contact Info:

• Website: Singingsteven.com
• Instagram: Singingsteven2020
• Linkedin: Steven Kronauer