College Audition Coaching
San Francisco Bay Area & Online
Preparing for Fall Prescreens?
Prescreen deadlines are approaching, and there is still time to get focused support.
I currently have limited availability for students preparing recordings for Fall 2026 submission deadlines.
Get personalized coaching to help you prepare your songs, monologues, and performance material and present your strongest, most authentic self on camera. We'll work on performance choices, vocal and acting preparation, storytelling, confidence, and the practical strategies that help you stand out in the college audition process.
Whether you're applying to Musical Theater, Theater, or Vocal Performance programs, I'll help you navigate the prescreen process and prepare for the next stage of your college auditions with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose.
What we work on together
College auditions require more than a beautiful voice or strong acting skills. You need the right material, a clear strategy, confident performance choices, and the ability to communicate who you are as an artist.
In our private coaching sessions, we'll focus on the specific requirements of your college audition process:
Selecting audition material — Choosing songs and monologues that showcase your unique strengths, personality, and range while fitting the requirements of your target programs.
Preparing prescreens — Refining songs, monologues, slates, cuts, and presentation for recorded auditions.
Strengthening performance choices — Developing storytelling, emotional connection, character, and authentic communication so you're not just singing or reciting; you’re telling a story.
Building camera confidence — Practicing eye contact, body language, framing, and presence so you can connect with the people watching on the other side of the camera.
Preparing audition cuts — Creating polished, appropriately timed cuts that meet each school's specific requirements.
Practicing live auditions — Preparing for in-person auditions, callbacks, and mock auditions so you know how to walk into the room and confidently do your work.
Preparing for interviews — Developing authentic, confident responses and learning how to talk about yourself, your training, and why a particular program is a good fit.
Managing your audition timeline — Organizing school requirements, recording dates, deadlines, applications, and audition appointments so nothing gets lost in the process.
Managing nerves — Developing practical strategies to stay grounded, focused, and present when the pressure is on.
This is personalized college audition coaching designed around your voice, experience, goals, and target programs. We'll meet you where you are and create a preparation plan that helps you feel confident and ready to show colleges who you are as a powerful performer.
Who this Is for
Audition coaching is a strong fit if you are:
• A rising senior applying to musical theatre or vocal performance programs
• Preparing for college pre-screens and live auditions
• Auditioning for performing arts colleges in Musical Theater and Vocals
• An experienced performer who wants to feel fully prepared and confident
FREE COLLEGE AUDITION RESOURCE
Preparing Your Prescreens?
Get my FREE College Audition Prescreen Success Kit
Your prescreen is your first chance to showcase your talent to colleges. Before recording, avoid common mistakes that can weaken your audition.
Inside you'll get:
My complete Prescreen Recording Checklist * The Top 10 Prescreen Mistakes * My 5-Take Rule for avoiding over-recording * Camera, lighting, sound & framing tips * The Stop • Breathe • Be exercise for recording-day nerves
For Musical Theater, Theater, & Vocal Performance applicants.
Results
Students I have coached have been accepted into highly competitive programs, including:
● NYU Tisch
● NYU Singapore
● USC
● Willamette
● Long Island University BFA Musical Theater Program
● Rutgers
● Willamette
● Drew
● Dean College
● Muhlenberg
● Pacific Lutheran
● Princeton BM Vocal Program
● UCLA (my alma mater)
● Berklee School of Music Vocal Program
● Emerson University
They Got In! – What Audition Students are Saying:
Tanaka got into Princeton!
Jessica was my biggest cheerleader through one of the most foundational and intense periods in a young performer’s life, and she constantly made me feel prepared for and worthy of any artistic space I walked into. The confidence and love for singing and performing that I found with her is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life!
Tanaka Dunbar Ngwara, BM in Music at Princeton University
Kristina got into NYU!
“Audition coaching with Jessica helped me feel fully prepared for my competitive Performing Arts College Auditions. She helped me select the right material for my pre-screen and in person auditions, and plan out my audition schedule, and I’m proud to say that I got into my first choice, NYU’s Musical Theatre Program, WOO HOO!”
-Kristina Jewett., BFA in Drama with a focus on Musical Theatre from New York University
Tia got into a Theatre BFA!
“Jessica’s coaching has been incredible; she puts a lot of care into not only coaching but also getting to know me as a person. I’ve absolutely loved my experience with her, and I couldn’t have gotten through the college process without her!”
— Tia Jeffs, BFA in Theatre at Pacific Lutheran University
Why Students and Families Choose This Coaching
This is not just about preparing a few songs.
Students receive:
• A clear audition strategy from start to finish
• Expert guidance on material that helps them stand out
• Tools and templates they can use for future auditions
• A supportive, structured environment during a high-pressure season
My goal is to help each student feel prepared, confident, and artistically grounded.
Coaching Options
I offer private coaching packages during the college audition season.
Sessions are available online, with some final in-person audition prep for students in the San Francisco Bay Area.
How to Apply
If you’re interested in personalized audition coaching, apply today by filling out this short form!
Spots are limited this season to provide focused support:
Support for Parents of Performers
The college audition process can feel overwhelming for both students and families.
From choosing material to preparing pre-screens, managing deadlines, and building confidence for high-stakes auditions, there are many moving parts.
With over 20 years of coaching experience, I provide students with clear guidance, personalized support, and a calm, structured approach throughout the audition season, helping them feel prepared and confident at every step.
Families often appreciate having an experienced coach to help reduce stress, create a clear plan, and support their student through this important transition.
I’m also happy to communicate with parents as needed, while encouraging students to take ownership of their preparation.
👉 Ready to support your performer’s next step?
Schedule a call with me HERE:
Frequently Asked Questions
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I recommend you start in June 2026 to have plenty of time to select and practice your material before recording your pre-screens in the Fall and attending in-person auditions in January and February of 2027.
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I work with intermediate- to advanced-level students who have at least 2-4 years of performance experience. I require an audition to ensure you are placed in the right coaching plan and timeline. Due to limited space, you will not be guaranteed a spot.
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We will work primarily online to prepare for your auditions. If you are a Bay Area student, we can meet in person for your final session. The program is designed to run entirely online via Zoom, using the Original Sound for Musicians feature to ensure excellent sound quality.
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I offer expert guidance on how to record your pre-screens at home. You will receive my pre-screen checklist and spreadsheet template to make the recording process easy. I will also review and help you select your best takes before you submit your recordings.
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With some of the most competitive college programs admitting less than 5% of performance students, we set you up for success by giving you a realistic approach to auditioning for a strategic mix of safety, fit, and reach performing arts programs. You may not get into your dream school, but we’ll support you in finding the BEST FIT for your talents and skill set across BA, BFA, BM, and Conservatory options.
I can’t wait to support you in succeeding at your college auditions!
I have enjoyed supporting performers for the past twenty years as they pursue their dreams of entering their favorite performing arts college programs and achieving their goals.
As a graduate of the UCLA Department of Theater, I understand how challenging auditions can be. You don’t have to navigate this process alone. I’m here to help you perform your best at your auditions using a proven strategy.
- Jessica & my pup, Nalu