Testimonies

I have worked as a professional wedding/lounge singer since 1988, but never trained in classical technique.  My recent decision to pursue a degree in music found me in need of a classical repertoire.  Jennifer trained me in the bel canto method, and with her help I aced the audition.  A few short months later she had me singing in Latin, Italian, French, and German!  Not only has she taught me an entirely different genre with its own technique, but has helped to improve my range and tone in my contemporary singing.  Her comprehensive approach to voice instruction teaches not only the components of singing technique, but encompasses the anatomy and physiology of the voice, and stresses the importance of ones overall physical and emotional well-being in order to reach his/her fullest vocal potential. From the beginner to the trained professional, I recommend her to anyone looking to become the best singer you can be. Jennifer's talent, knowledge, skill, sincere caring and support are sure to help you attain your goals.     

- Kerry Lynn Russo   Lead Singer, Full Circle Wedding and Party Band  9/2006

I would like to thank Jennifer Cece for doing an amazing job teaching my twin daughters Cora and Ava how to sing and perform .  She has worked with my daughters for 7 years, since they were six years old.  They have performed very successfully in numerous vocal recitals and have gotten lead  roles in their theater groups and school plays.  Cora played the roles of Elsa in Frozen Jr, Sharpay in High School Musical, Mayzie in Seussical, The Drowsy Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone, Annie in Annie, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Sandy in Grease, Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray and Nala in Lion King.  Ava played the roles of Ana in Frozen Jr, Ryan in High School Musical, Jojo in Seussical, Janet in The Drowsy Chaperone and Rizzo in Grease.  They sang the national anthem at University of Alabama and Cooperstown and many school and community events.  They performed “Children Will Listen” at a Middle School Graduation.  They also performed at various Peace4Paws charity benefits.  In addition to Jennifer’s excellent and comprehensive vocal instruction, she has a warm and friendly way in her approach.  For example Cora likes to have tea when she comes and Jennifer always takes a few minutes to make sure they have their tea time.  She also is very sensitive to the emotions and social issues that young singers go through and is there as a very encouraging and motivating force in their lives.  Jennifer has become like an aunt to my daughters and I have recommended her  to my closest friends and family and would continue to do so.  Thank you very much for a job well done.

- Brett and Gina Patelsky, December 2019

UPDATE

June 10, 2023 The Patelsky Twins gave their first concert of all original songs at the Debonair Music Hall, Teaneck, NJ.  Between the two sisters they have 20 original songs which can be found on Spotify, You tube and other digital platforms. The have been well received locally and nationally! 

My daughter Kate has been taking voice lessons with Jennifer since she was 7 years old, over 4 years now. Jennifer has really helped her develop as a singer. She has been trained in numerous different genres of music plus she has studied sight reading, keys and harmony. Jennifer has developed her voice, worked on pitch, and really grown her as a vocalist. With Jennifer’s support Kate has performed beautifully as a singer in a rock band and school musicals. My child loves having Jennifer as her teacher and has a great relationship with her, making their time together a pleasure.    

- Gail Simmons, December 2019

"Jennifer is genuinely interested in helping me to become a better singer and without her encouragement and support, I would never have progressed this far. She makes even the most demanding music seem easy." Jim Cagle 

I has been a student of Ms. Cece since 2009. My daughter Katie was a student of Jennifer after we moved from Texas in 2008. It looked like so much fun that I started too. While I had some singing experience, I had no training. Under Jennifer's expert tutelage, I quickly progress from country and jazz standards to classical pieces and in 2011 performed a dual role in his first opera, La Boheme, with Palisades Opera as Benoit and Alchindoro. With Jennifer's encouragement and teaching, I have continued to progress and I am performing increasingly demanding roles as Masetto (Don Giovanni), Bartolo (I'll Nozze di Figaro) with Palisades Opera, a multi part role (Andrea Chenier) and as Osmin (Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail) with the New York Opera Forum.  

- Jim Cagle Bass Baritone, Westwood, New Jersey  2012

If I had to describe Miss Jenn, I would choose BEAUTIFUL, TALENTED, and CURIOUS! 

I have worked with the incredible Miss Jenn at Westwood Studios since April of 2019. And may I just say that this past year has been one of the best years of my life because of the fact. Even though I have only worked and known Miss Jenn for a little over a year now, I have improved in so many ways. My vocal range has gotten bigger, my confidence has grown, and I have become more inquisitive about the lives of other people. If Miss Jenn were not my singing teacher and adult friend, it would have taken me double the time to get anywhere close to where I am now in so many areas of my life. Very soon I will be coming out with a song called “I Would” on Spotify and YouTube that Miss Jenn played a huge roll in when it comes to perfecting my voice and getting the the meaning of this song I wrote across to my audience as clearly as possible. I thank God that I was lucky enough to have an amazing piano teacher named Brianna Musco introduce me to this beautiful, curious, and talented women! Throughout my 18 years of life I have learned to surround my self with people who are completely honest with me, yet never underestimate what I’m capable of doing. Miss Jenn has always been one of those people! I can’t wait to share many more experiences and music lessons with her!!! 🎵🎶❤️❤️❤️💕

- August  2020

I CAN SING MY ABCs thanks to Mrs. Cece-Bellon.

I began taking lessons from Mrs. Jennifer Cece-Bellon when I was in first grade. I immediately fell in love with the study of piano, and continued with weekly sessions for eight years.  Each year there were one or two recitals; everyone would play 2 or 3 numbers on the piano or would sing a few selections-a few have even done both! It's amazing to watch people perform in Mrs. Cece-Bellon's recitals each year, because you can see how well they've developed under Mrs. Cece-Bellon's instruction.  It has been scientifically proven that studying any kind of music, (for me, piano), will help improve mathematical ability. When you study note values, it's just like doing fractions. I found that while taking piano lessons from Mrs. Cece-Bellon developed my mathematical ability more rapidly, it also provided a stress-release; artists can go paint or draw, poets can compose poems or sonnets, but musicians like me combine both visual and aural works of art when they play their instruments.

- AJ Wildey, 15, Boonton, New Jersey, June 2005

I recommend Mrs.Cece Bellon!  Voice lessons are fun.  I learned how to breathe properly.  I was able to prepare my vocal solos in the lessons.  I was nervous about singing the solos, but I was less nervous because of my lessons.  I enjoy singing as a hobby now, and I want to become a professional singer someday.  So I will keep studying.

- Stephanie Cooper, 5th Grade, Our Lady Of Mount Carmel School, Boonton, N.J.  2005

Ken Lane was blessed to have Jennifer Cece as his vocal coach and accompanyist from 2002 to 2019 the year he passed away at age 92 years old. Ken Lane was an extremely gifted and successful performer.  Prior to working with Jennifer, Ken Lane had sung ten language operatic recital at Carnegie Hall (1954, 1955,1985), various Broadway musicals ( Most Happy Fella Guys and Dolls, and The King and I), radio and also the Metropolitan Opera

Ken’s brother Ben asked me to write something about his late brother Ken as a testimony of what it was like to work with him. Jennifer writes:

Ken Lane was an amazing man for so many reasons.  He was a truly talented helden tenor.  A helden tenor is an extremely powerful tenor whose voice is perfect for Wagnerian opera.  Ken was so passionate about his singing.  I played the piano for his concerts from 2002 to 2018 less than a year before he passed away at age 92.  Ken was great to work with.  He would plan his rehearsal times weeks and months in advance.  He would come prepared with two notebooks one for him and one for me and He would bring his brother, the doctor, Ben.  They looked like twins but were five years apart in age.  Ben is 87 as of January 2020 and Ken would have been 93 this year. I would play for Ken but I would also give him feedback that he appreciated.  His brother would give him feedback too and sometimes that wasn't as appreciated, so sometimes Ben would look at me, because we were both thinking the same thing about some musical aspect of his piece and then I would delicately give the suggestion.  And then Ben and I would wait for the opportune moment to look at each other again with satisfaction because Ken was doing very well with our suggestion. I would often jokingly give a suggestion.  And Ken would think carefully over everything I may have suggested and make the final decision with himself.  Quite often our rehearsals and performances were filled with laughter because Ken was so funny and witty.  He seemed invincible.  He was 92 at the last concert he performed with me was in New York City at the New Yorker Hotel.  I will miss his passion, sense of humor, determination, showmanship and of course his voice.  I am sad that he has passed away but his cd's will preserve his voice.  His 10 language concert at Carnegie Hall which was way before my time was incredible.  I am honored to have worked with him.  He considered me family and we considered them family as well.  Ken and his brother Ben - such wonderful people.  I am sure Ken is singing on a cloud somewhere out there.  It was an honor to work with Ken. Ben, his brother, said that Ken was honored and ever to so happy to have worked with me.