Get coached by Smoke Ring!
Smoke Ring works with choruses, vocal ensembles and vocal quartets of all skill levels and specializations. We take a holistic approach to coaching, linking vocal harmony with physical expression and clear storytelling. We have experience coaching SATB, SSAA, TTBB, youth and contemporary a cappella ensembles.
Work with us to cover the full arc of performance: from the musical arrangement (Alexander) to vocal technique (Becca), making emotional connections with music (Stephanie), and physical embodiment (Gabriel).
Get to know the coaches
Becca Eckes (she/her) has trained in classical music and musical theater for over 20 years. As a second generation barbershop singer with 10+ years with SAI and BHS, she's developed a broad understanding of opportunities an ensemble can utilize to make their performance work for them. While receiving her masters in Costume Production at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, she led rehearsals for the Collective Virtual Choir including vocal and physical warm ups and facilitating easy ways to strengthen the singers voices in healthy ways.
Stephanie "Tags" Taglianetti (she/her) is a vocalist and stage performer based in the NYC metro area. She received scholarships in 2024 and 2025 to attend the Barbershop Harmony Society’s Harmony University, where she studied advanced coaching techniques for singers in the Coaching College with a concentration in Performance (the artistry of storytelling and audience connection). In 2025, she was named the in-house Performance Captain/Coach for Gotham Chorus (2024 BHS Bronze medalists), and served on the Performance Team for Voices of Gotham Chorus in 2024-2025. Stephanie coaches and directs vocal ensembles of all levels, specializing in helping groups achieve authentic storytelling on stage. She can also work with you 1:1 to help you unlock your inner diva—feel empowered to take up space on stage in a 1:1 “Diva Session.”
Alexander Ronneburg (he/him) is an award-winning composer, arranger, championship performer, and seasoned music director. He has served as the co-music director of Gotham Chorus and led the Gotham Arranger’s lab. He received the 1st prize in the ASMAC Ray and Jon Charles Vocal Arranging competition and was awarded a Lou Perry arranging scholarship to attend Harmony University. He attended Stanford University where he received a B.A. in Music, Science, and Technology and NYU where he received an M.F.A. in Musical Theatre Writing. He is currently a member of the prestigious BMI Musical Theatre Workshop.
Gabriel Spector (he/they) is a performing artist currently based in Queens. He has a diverse and eclectic background of performance training and experience, ranging from dancing with the New York City Ballet, to receiving a BA in Contemporary Performance Practice from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, to performing with the Commonwealth Youth Circus, to competing at the highest levels with Smoke Ring. Gabriel prides themself on being able to approach performance from a multitude of mindsets, and being able to translate high-level concepts from several disciplines into language that makes sense to any performer, from beginners to established professionals looking to cross-train. He particularly enjoys establishing a bodily connection to any performance style, and finding similarities between forms of artistic expression.
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