Hi, I'm Santella.
My journey into the performing arts began in 1986, when I set out to become a professional dancer. I started with a foundation course at North London College, where I discovered my passion for dance. This led me to West Street Ballet School in Covent Garden, where I trained for two years.
During my training, my teachers recognised something I hadn't fully appreciated myself: my voice. They encouraged me to explore musical theatre, which led me to London Studio Centre in King's Cross. I secured a grant to train there and, in my final year, won a £6,000 scholarship. Before completing my training, I had already secured my first professional job.
In 1991, I began a two-year engagement at Gardaland in Italy, dancing with the company and performing as a resident singer.
After Gardaland, I appeared on Des O'Connor's national television talent show, Pot of Gold. Performing Extraordinary from Pippin, I finished as a proud runner-up.
Then my dream came true. For the 1994 to 1995 season, I became a cast member of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express in Bochum, Germany. At the end of 1995, I secured an engagement aboard a Caribbean cruise liner, followed by work with Gaudí Musicals in Germany in 1996.
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When life took an unexpected turn
After years of pursuing my performing career, I found myself caught up in the pressures and challenges of that world, and I became very ill. Eventually, I had to step away from performing and find a new direction.
What followed was an unexpected journey of rediscovery. I began teaching myself music production, songwriting and piano, developing skills that opened up an entirely new creative world. I worked with up-and-coming recording artists in Germany and went on to produce my own artist, A.B.
Although that chapter didn't unfold as I had hoped, it gave me valuable experience and skills that I continue to use today.
After around 15 years in Germany, I returned to the UK. The transition was challenging, and I went through a period of depression before gradually finding my direction again.
In 2009, I began teaching singing. What started as a new chapter became a career spanning 17 years, allowing me to combine my love of music with a desire to help others grow.
Discovering Motivational Singing Lessons
Along the way, I explored motivational speaking and spent time working with Speakers Are Leaders. This experience helped me understand the powerful relationship between mindset, confidence and personal growth. However, I wanted to apply those principles in a way that felt authentic to me.
That realisation led me to develop Motivational Singing Lessons, an approach that combines vocal coaching with the lessons I've learned through performance, music production, songwriting and motivational speaking.
I believe singing is about much more than hitting the right notes. It can help us challenge self-doubt, build confidence and discover abilities we may never have realised we possessed.
My aim is to create a supportive environment where people can develop their voices without fear of judgement, while building confidence that extends beyond the classroom and into everyday life.
I believe in this approach so strongly that I wrote Motivational Singing Lessons: Guide to Greatness, available on Amazon.
What I do today
Today, I teach singing and piano in Luton, Dunstable and across Bedfordshire. My piano lessons are particularly designed for singers who want to accompany themselves, and I've helped complete beginners develop into competent players within three to six months.
I'm also working with an up-and-coming UK R&B artist, continuing to develop my skills and apply the experience I've gathered throughout my career.
Looking back, my journey has involved performing, facing challenges, learning new skills and starting again when life didn't go according to plan.
Each chapter has contributed to the teacher I am today. I bring all those experiences into my work, helping others find their voice, build their confidence and discover what they're capable of.
Because sometimes, finding our voice is about much more than learning to sing. It's about discovering what we can become.
