At 23, Cristina DiMuro teaches children to sing newer music, but she can also belt out classic opera.
She calls her home-run company "Voice Lessons by Cristina," and can teach styles of music including Disney, Broadway, Pop and Sacred.
The Trumbull resident, who studied singing in America and Italy, is a soprano whose resume includes "La Boheme" and the "H.M.S. Pinafore" and newer productions, such as "Bye Bye Birdie" and "Once Upon a Mattress." She studied at the Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Voice Performance.
She was inspired to teach after college graduation in 2011, when she was volunteering at an acting camp. "The light bulb went on and I said, 'I could do that.'"
"I love kids. I love singing. I'm blessed I can do that," DiMuro said.
"I can make my own hours. If I need to a take a day off, I can," she added.
She recently showcased her students' talents at a performance in the Trumbull Library. She's had as many students as 15, ranging from ages 6 to a woman who used to sing and wants to retrain her voice.
Some of her students have gone on to the Fairfield County Children's Choir and other state choirs.
DiMuro particularly stresses music reading, because anyone wishing to pursue a singing career may have to read music at auditions. She also teaches introduction to music theory, foreign language diction for singing and musical theater audition preparation.
Music also brought DiMuro romance. She met her boyfriend, another opera singer, while playing Musetta in "La Boheme." The character starts out as flirtatious but proves she has a heart by the end of the show, DiMuro said.
"She was a lot of fun to play because she was so obnoxious," the teacher said.
She said she hopes to have a singing career and a family some day. Until then, she will continue to work with children, something she's done throughout her life, in addition to singing.
She credits her parents with supporting her musical education. "They never, ever doubted me," DiMuro said.
DiMuro can be reached at 203-218-5685.
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