Akela Franklin (She/Her/Hers) is a classically trained singer, vocal pedagogue, children’s music and theatre educator originally from the California Bay Area. She is currently based in Boston and has been teaching voice and choral activities with CMCB since March 2020.

As a progressive performing artist and educator, Akela’s mission is to utilize her creativity, artistry, and expertise to empower herself and her community. She strives to fulfill this mission by sparking joy through self expression, fostering confidence and belonging in all artistic spaces, and prioritizing cultural inclusion and sustainability.

Akela feels extremely fortunate to work with the young artists of the Community Music School, as well Boston Public School students through Community Engagement Programs. In addition to her work at CMCB, Akela serves as the Children’s Music Coordinator at First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton (FUUSN) and has maintained an active, vibrant private voice studio since early 2018. Akela was a 2020-21 recipient of the Marilla MacDill award for Teaching Excellence and Community Service. She holds a Master of Music (M.M.) from Longy School of Music of Bard College and a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) from University of Puget Sound, with a minor in Religion. She studies voice with Carol Mastrodomenico and is currently pursuing a teaching certificate through Boston Conservatory of Berklee’s Alexander Technique teacher training program. In her free time, she loves to cook, binge true crime podcasts and documentaries, and snuggle with her kitty Éowyn.

Education
B.M. University of Puget Sound
M.M. Longy School of Music of Bard College