Entry 02
Email Interview with the founder of TVS
Many of TVS’s current coaches and students might not be aware of how old TVS actually is, and who were the first people at The Vocal Studio Singapore. Surprise surprise, we are already 13 years old as a vocal institution, and the founder of TVS is Ms Lauren Dogan.
Ms. Lauren is currently based in Australia. Though I haven’t met her personally, I had some questions about and curiosity to know her - the aspiration of creating The Vocal Studio, her visions, and some journey that lead her from there to current moment of life. As a principal of the studio myself, it has not very easy to learn A to Z about running a studio, and starting it from the scratch could have been much more challenge which I can only imagine. This is a kind of work that one can pursue when you have a deep passion.
Below is a short Q&A exchange about her experience at TVS.
1) When is the birthday of the vocal studio? Is there any specific opening date of the studio ?
October 2009. We relocated from Sydney to Singapore and I commenced TVS 6 weeks after from my home in Mount Sofia before moving to #02-11 Kramat Lane and then to #03-04.
2) What motivated you to open the vocal studio singapore?
I had been a singing teacher in Sydney for more than 5 years and wanted to continue my passion for providing singing lessons and helping people attain their goals.
3) Could you share the most difficult and most amazing moment of your time at TVS?
Most difficult time was having to move on from TVS due to family reasons as I had grown the business from the start and formed lifelong relationships with students and staff. My time at TVS brought many happy memories of teaching singing to so many different groups of people.
I also volunteered for 2 years teaching singing to the residents of Touch Community Services as well as teaching members of the Singaporean Air Force (not sure if it's still been retained, but the plate in reception was a token of appreciation) as well as my regular students. I am still in touch with many students as they will always remain a very special part of my life.
4) As a founder, how do you wish for TVS to grow in the future?
I would love to see TVS grow possibly into having a recording space (studio) or a venue for recitals. Also, incorporating other instruments for lessons are some of the things that I was dreaming about before I had to relocate.
5) Would you like to share a bit more about yourself now, current focus in life, and your dream?
I am still singing professionally from time to time (corporate functions and weddings etc) but I have returned back to my studies that I undertook prior to moving to Singapore working within environmental science. I have moved from helping people with their singing and confidence to helping the greater community in a different way.
Well done to you for all that you have achieved so far with TVS, yourself and your team should feel very proud!
I thank her - for the passion that she had inside the heart and for the effort that she put for carrying it on, for it has impacted multiple lives including mine, and opened many doors beyond what she could see. I also take this as a reminder for myself.. that whatever work I continue to do with heartfelt passion, might one day grow as something bigger than me. :)
So, dream in it and believe in it.
