Shänka is a national recording classical recitalist, vocal coach and vocal producer in Chicago, Illinois. Native of Gastonia, North Carolina, she began studying at the age of seventeen with the late Frances Shafter of Charlotte, North Carolina. She continued her studies at the Uni- versity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she earned a Bachelor’s of Music in Voice Per- formance. Shänka has been privileged to study and coach with Nicolas DiVirgilio, Ollie Watts- Davis, Cynthia Haymon-Coleman, John Wustman, Jeffery Arnold, Dewitt Tipton, and Rachel Jensen, Jeffery Arnold, and Dr. Edna Williams. Shänka’s musical mentors include recording artist and Grammy nominee -Donald Lawrence, Grammy-Award winning Cynthia Haymon Cole-man, and world-wide accompanist Casey Jo-Ann Robards.
Shänka is the CEO of DMS- an Entertainment and Fine Arts Development company that serves aspiring performing artists, actors, and dancers. She is the Voice Director of Ravinia Community Conservatory as well as a teaching artist in residency at Ravinia music festival (Reach, Teach, Play). She is a part of the South Shore Opera Company of Chicago and the music department at Living Word Christian Center in Forrest Park, Illinois. Ms. Falls also main- tains a successful private voice studio on both the west and south sides of Chicago. Shänka’s latest endeavors include recording her debut album, self titled “Shänka La-Verne Falls” avail- able now, and she will be traveling to Florida for a new journey to do some coaching with the world renowned soprano, Elizabeth Graham.
Shänka believes that everyone has a voice, and that it should be heard. When she sings, her audience is all that have ears to hear. There is a unique anointing on her voice as she minis- ters the gospel through classical music. Her purpose is to heal wounds through her song and create an awareness of the excellence of sound in the Kingdom of God.
Booking information: www.dmsartists.com, dmsvoice@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/shankala-verne
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