Congratulations are in order - check out a brief sampling of our current & former student’s updates!

Natalie Renfro is the Associate Producer of Radio and Live in HD broadcasts at the Metropolitan Opera in NYC.

Alexandra Everbach is working on her MFA Acting at USC and booked Richard III at Chanticleer Shakespeare Co. in Fresno, CA this summer

Claire Everbach a senior at Pepperdine University, be joining 5NEWS in Fayetteville, Arkansas as a multi-media journalist/reporter starting in June

Liam Pham is attending NYU Tisch School for a BFA, Drama

Maddie Isaac - Hockaday School, Dallas, played Jack’s Mother in Into the Woods, and Huldey in The Moors

Sarah Boyd Diaz -Piano Teacher and Choir Director at Jones Academy of Fine Arts & Dual Language (and new mommy!)

Blake Rushing - currently touring with Sesame Street Live

Michelle Dulin - Dance with the San Antonion Six Shooters

Gabriella Rae Jimenez - NYC, William Esper Studio, doing various new projects, hoping they are picked up for Off-Broadway/film

Nathan Roberts - Musical Theatre, Pepperdine University

Janie Carr - recently played Sally Brown in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown at Theatre Coppell

Jeena Piriano practices general litigation as an associate in the Austin office of McGinnis Lochridge, still enjoys watching live theatre :)

Adam Jones - graduated from Belmont University, professional musician currently on a cruise ship contract

Sophie Pong is majoring in Theatre with a Musical Theatre concentration at Northwestern.

Madilynn Stelzer McConnell - Vocal Performance/Education OCU, grad work Stephen F Austin, currently music directing in D/FW and running her sourdough business, Mad Baker

Evellyn Hargrave attended Booker T. Washington High School of the Performing Arts, and is finishing up at Episcopal School of Dallas. She played the lead in “Anything Goes” and “She Loves Me,” continues to dance with the Dallas Ballet Company and won Student Visionary of the Year for her leadership of her team for CureQuest, raising over $147,500, a record breaking number for a Leukemia & Lymphoma team in North Texas!

Michael Hasty appeared in “Shrek” and in “Newsies” at Casa Manana, has sung in concerts in NYC & is currently performing for Disney Cruise Lines

Tori Smith continues to tour nationwide with her band, Good Morning Bedlam. Look them up - great folk/Americana with gorgeous harmonies & lots of energy.

Aden Black, Music Education/Vocal Performance major at SMU, now a choir director

Michelle “Shelbie Mac” McElree played the title role in “Mary Poppins” at Artisan Center Theatre, performed in Alaska for 6 months and is now in NYC

Helen Han - Entrepreneur, owner of Elevate Massage Therapy and Elevate Pet Boutique in OKC, still doing some occasional singing gigs

Zoey Barnes was one of 24 performers chosen nationwide to attend the prestigious Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival Summer Musical Theatre Intensive

More details to follow!

Wilkerson Voice And Acting Studio - Information and Policies

John and Margaret Shafer Wilkerson's critically acclaimed Broadway, touring, regional and concert performance background, coupled with their decades of successful teaching experiences, make them uniquely qualified to guide individuals to reach their maximum potential. They understand the physical, mental and emotional challenges of the performing artist. John holds a Bachelor of Music from Shenandoah Conservatory and completed his graduate work in Vocal Performance at SUNY-Fredonia. He studied acting and directing with Paul Iddings, Behrend College, Penn State. Margaret's formal vocal studies were with Fredna Grimland, Virginia Botkin (UNT,) Anne Jackson and Carmel Harris (NYC.) Her most edifying acting studies came from working with great actors. She was a history major/sociology minor...hence, her oft-repeated refrain, "Do the research!"

Next generation, Shafer Wilkerson, is a singer/songwriter/studio musician/producer and educator. He is skilled in all styles, particularly effective in teaching pop/rock. Having played keyboards, provided vocals and written lyrics and music for many artists.  He has performed solo at venues throughout Texas and Oklahoma, in all styles - rock, pop, alternative, country, and more. Musical theatre roles include Roger in Rent, the Phantom in Kopit/Yeston's Phantom, The Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Pat in State Fair (2x) Joey Primo in Rock of Ages and Rolf in The Sound of Music. He received a Column Award for his performance in State Fair and his performances have all been critically praised. Wilkerson is sensitive to student competition, as he was in the Texas All State Choir as a high school student and placed 3rd in the NATS competition (Texoma region - TX, OK, AZ) as a freshman vocal performance major at Baylor University, as a student of Dr. Curtis Streetman, bass, whose exciting and rich interpretive gifts have been presented in some of the world's major concert halls and opera houses. As a musical theatre major at University of Central Oklahoma, Shafer was honored to be chosen to play the lead in the opera program's production of The Ballad of Baby Doe, and also placed 2nd in NATS competition, as a student of the renowned Dr. Marilyn Govich. He also served as a worship leader and youth minister for two years, and cares deeply about those he shepherds, in any capacity. His dedication to his craft blends seamlessly with his passion for enhancing and benefiting any student's experience. He asks only that they dedicate themselves to the process of listening and learning. Contact him at 469-744-4098.

The Wilkerson's firmly believe one needs a strong foundation in proven technique, regardless of the type of music one sings. Instruction is customized and built upon an understanding and application of healthy sound production. Students have different goals and gifts, and all kinds of music are worthwhile. Plan to work hard, have fun, and see results! Students have found personal and professional fulfillment through various arts outlets- live performance, recording, directing, teaching, administration, etc. They have been accepted into prestigious programs and chosen Belmont, Cincinnati Conservatory, Oklahoma City University, Boston Conservatory, Edinburgh, Ithaca, SMU, Rutgers, Baylor, Duke, Montclair, Otterbein, Missouri State, Tulane, Baldwin Wallace, Wyoming, University of Central Oklahoma, UT - Austin, Webster and more!

Margaret and John also offer private acting studies and coaching. There are many schools of thought on what method/style/technique is the "best." You don't want to be a cookie, so why take a cookie-cutter approach? Find what works best for you. Tuition/attendance policies below

Master Classes/Workshops/Camps

Book a master class or workshop for your school (any grade level, first through college) or organization. Contact us regarding an existing course, or one tailor-made specifically for your group. Topics have included: Auditioning for Musical Theatre, Advanced Musical Scene Study, Acting "Methods" - what works for you? Musical Theatre History (can be very broad, or more specific in focus,) The Business of “The Business,” School and Job Opportunities in the Arts, and Our Lives as Performers

 Wilkerson Studio Policies

The vocal approach is classic 'bel canto' - beautiful, supported, relaxed. Proper breathing/posture/technique is paramount, as one must have a good foundation, structurally, to do what one wants to achieve artistically. Learn to be the master of one's voice (not the other way around.) Ideally, singing should be, in many ways, as natural as speaking, and the two disciplines have much overlap. We have a great time teaching and want to make it fun and fulfilling for our students. Material fits the student’s capabilities, as we advance with exercises to strengthen technique, range, build repertoire as ability improves, deepen understanding of material and polish for performance.

Lessons are $75 an hour. Standard scheduling is a one-hour lesson once a week. Single lessons (or short-term packages for coaching purposes,) $100 hr.

Full tuition for the entire month is due the first week of the month. Please note that there are months in which a fifth lesson falls, so payment must be made accordingly. If you cannot attend a scheduled lesson, inform us as soon as possible. Contacting us to set up a make-up time is up to the student/parent.

Tuition is paid for the month, regardless of attendance, similar to dance studios and college classes. It covers not only the lessons, but planning, research, correspondence (students/parents and others on their behalf,) scheduling, copies and administrative work. There are no refunds, but we do offer make-up lessons in case of illness or an unavoidable event. It is not always easy to find a convenient time, so every effort should be made to attend regularly. Progress is made through regular attendance, continuously increasing knowledge, ability, and muscle memory to wipe out bad habits, learn good habits and prevent backsliding.

Our studio is a business and the way we make our living. We certainly empathize with the "busy-ness" of daily life, as we experience it ourselves. Thanks for understanding the need to operate in a structured fashion to ensure that things go smoothly and thank you for sharing this part of your lives with us.

Contact : John at 469-744-3456 or johnb.wilkerson@sbcglobal.net and Margaret at 469-516-9652 or talltexgirl@yahoo.com and Shafer Wilkerson at 469-744-4098 or shaferwilkerson