Elijah Cineas

Vocal Coach | San Francisco and Virtual | Founder of The Cineas Studio

My name is Elijah Cineas, I am the founder of The Cineas Studio. In addition to my work as a music educator and arts administrator, I am a professional singer and worship leader. My professional work has included gospel, choral music, musical theater, and opera. In the 2025-2026 season, I performed as featured soloist with the San Francisco Symphony in their Deck the Hall and Music of the Heart programs. 

Whether you’re looking for voice lessons for your child, or yourself - whether your goals are professional or recreational, I would love to work with you! I have extensive experience in a wide range of styles including classical music, musical theater, gospel, and popular music.

My teaching is shaped by the two rich musical traditions of gospel and bel canto.  Both demand technical precision, artistic freedom, and expressive storytelling. Both rely on aural tradition, passed from singer to singer through listening, imitation, and performance. My understanding of these traditions combined with the study of vocal anatomy, physiology, acoustics, and strategies have shaped my technical framework. These frameworks allow me to teach comfortably across pop, R&B, soul, gospel, musical theater, and classical music, helping singers develop voices that are both technically reliable and artistically expressive. I have also studied pedagogy to ensure the most effective communication and teaching of these ideas to every student, regardless of their background and experience. 

I believe successful vocal technique is never one-size-fits-all. Every singer's anatomy, coordination, and learning process are unique, so my goal is not to force every student into a single method, but to help each singer discover and solidify the most efficient and effective way for their voice to function. I teach singers how to coordinate their body and navigate their sensations in order to optimize their breath support, tone, range, and agility. My goal with every student is to develop a voice that is flexible, beautiful, powerful, and expressive.

In addition to vocal technique, my students learn to interpret songs with conviction, understand harmony, develop their ear, read music and chord charts, and communicate confidently in rehearsals and performances. Lessons are challenging, encouraging, and enjoyable, with the goal of helping every singer make meaningful progress while discovering a voice that is authentically their own.

I have worked as a vocal coach for high school choirs, theater departments, and worship teams, and musical director credits include Into the Woods, Beauty and the Beast, Between the Lines, The Little Mermaid, Hadestown (Teen Edition), and Beetlejuice Jr.

I am currently pursuing my Masters of Music in Voice Performance at The San Francisco Conservatory of Music. I have also earned a Bachelors of Music in Opera Performance from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music (CSU Long Beach). My coursework included in-depth studies in music theory, vocal jazz, acting, music education, and piano. My professional credits include performances and cover roles in Russian, French, German, and Italian including the composers Mozart, Rossini, Prokofiev, and Wagner. Most recently, I made my solo debut with the San Francisco Symphony in their December 2025 Deck the Hall concert.‍ ‍

In addition to being a lifelong musician, I am currently pursuing my Masters of Music in Voice Performance at The San Francisco Conservatory of Music. I have also earned a Bachelors of Music in Opera Performance from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music (CSU Long Beach). My coursework included in-depth studies in music theory, vocal jazz, acting, music education, and piano. My professional credits include performances and cover roles in Russian, French, German, and Italian including the composers Mozart, Rossini, Prokofiev, and Wagner. Most recently, I made my solo debut with the San Francisco Symphony in their December 2025 Deck the Hall concert.‍ ‍

Last fun fact: I am a member of the National Association of Teacher’s of Singing, which means that I my students can participate in statewide and national competitions, as well as masterclasses and other singing events. I am currently accepting voice students virtually and in San Francisco.

If you would like to book a trial lesson, please click here.

TESTIMONIALS

  • “I have been taking lessons with Cineas Voice Studio for several months, and the improvement in my voice has been remarkable. From the very first lesson, my confidence and vocal strength have grown significantly. Elijah is a true master of his craft, and working with him has been both inspiring and rewarding. If you’re thinking about starting lessons, I highly recommend joining his studio—you won’t regret it!”

    Leo, Worship Leader

  • “Mr. Cineas has been an incredible asset to our choral program. His expertise, clear communication, and ability to engage students from 9th to 12th grade have been outstanding. He’s professional, reliable, and passionate about ensuring every student has meaningful opportunities to grow. I highly recommend him as a skilled and dedicated vocal coach.”

    Annette Betts, Director of Music at Elsinore High

  • “Mr. Cineas is an amazing teacher. I was interested in taking voice lessons to get better at singing for theater, and I can say I’ve improved a lot in my weakest areas. We’ve worked on some mixing, strengthening head voice, adding character to songs, and reading solfège. By far my favorite was the work we did with head voice, it’s exciting to learn how high you can sing!“

    Maddison, high school student

  • Elijah has been so influential on my singing. I came to him rusty and out of touch with my voice. He helped me regain my confidence and my abilities. He makes your lessons fun, engaging, and impactful. What more can you ask for in a vocal coach? I am so grateful I found him and I am excited to keep working with him. He’ll help you master any song and you’ll have fun in the process!

    Jade Martinez, Singer

  • I took vocal lessons at Cineas Studio with Elijah for almost a year and I had the best time. He was thorough and patient during lessons and helped me gain so much knowledge and confidence in my singing and performance. Highly recommend taking lessons whether you're a seasoned performer or someone who sings for fun.

    Pia, Professional Singer

  • I highly recommend the Cineas Studio. Mr. Elijah is a very talented singer, and an even more skillful voice instructor. He has developed my daughter strengthen her vocals, stage presence, technique and overall confidence.

    Ron, Parent of a Middle School Student