Akela Franklin

About

Akela Franklin is a California-born soprano based in Boston who is steadily earning her place as one of New England's rising classical singers. She is a classically trained soprano and voice teacher with additional background in musical theatre, jazz, pop/contemporary, and instrumental music. She has been teaching privately for over 7 years, and has been on the voice faculty of Brookline Music School (BMS) since 2022, serving as Voice Department Chair since fall 2024. She also teaches two days a week for The Franklin Studio through Bloch Performing Arts. In 2021, she was awarded the Marilla MacDill Prize for Teaching Excellence and Community Service by Community Music Center of Boston. As a performer, Akela currently serves as the soprano section leader and soloist at Park Avenue Congregational Church in Arlington, and she is a student of Carol Mastrodomenico. She is also pursuing (and is nearly finished with) a teaching certification in the Alexander Technique at Boston Conservatory at Berklee.

Education & Qualifications

Master of Music (M.M.) from Longy School of Music of Bard College; Bachelor of Music (B.M.) from University of Puget Sound, with a minor in Religion; Currently pursuing teaching certification in the Alexander Technique at Boston Conservatory at Berklee

Teaching Styles