Peruvian singer and vocal coach Leticia Pizarro has launched Escuela de Voces, a new comprehensive training initiative designed for singers across diverse musical genres.
The project combines artistic education and music production in a single facility, offering technical guidance to both beginners and established professional artists.
Pizarro, a contralto vocalist with years of experience in vocal preparation and advisory work, has established a strong reputation across Peru's music industry. Over recent years, she has trained soloists, musical groups, and television personalities working in salsa, cumbia, rap, and reggaeton.
Training for Peru's leading musical groups
Her mentorship experience includes coaching current and former members of several prominent Peruvian tropical and cumbia ensembles, such as Los Claveles de la Cumbia, La Bella Luz, Armonía 10, and Las Estrellas de la Cumbia. She has also worked with vocalists from Rumba Star Less, Sabor Bacano, Rumba Star Kids, and Amor Rebelde.
Pizarro said she felt very happy to see each of her students gain experience and to have mentored so many people in the industry, adding that she always strives to give her best to every artist she works with.
Cumbia peruana is one of the most widely celebrated musical styles in Peru, dominating radio broadcasts, dance halls, and live concert venues across South America. Groups such as Armonía 10, which was founded in Piura in northern Peru during the 1970s, maintain demanding tour schedules that require lead singers to perform long sets under intense conditions. Contemporary groups like Los Claveles de la Cumbia and La Bella Luz similarly rely on high-energy vocal performances to connect with large audiences.
Salsa also holds a central position in Peruvian urban culture, particularly in coastal hubs like Lima and Callao. Performers in these genres must project their voices clearly over heavy percussion and loud brass arrangements. Without proper vocal technique, touring singers face significant risks of vocal fatigue, hoarseness, or physical damage to their vocal cords.
As a contralto artist, Pizarro brings a deep understanding of vocal physiology to her coaching. The contralto voice is the lowest female singing voice type, known for its rich, warm timbre and deep chest register. In commercial music, coaches with contralto expertise frequently specialize in helping singers navigate register transitions, improve breath support, and develop strong vocal resonance without straining the larynx.
Facilities and production services at Escuela de Voces
The newly established Escuela de Voces aims to address these technical demands by bringing together multiple dedicated spaces for artistic training and musical production. The academy offers specialized instruction in vocal technique, range extension, voice placement, and long-term vocal care.
In parallel with the academy, her venture Leticia Producciones will offer comprehensive advisory services for solo projects, dance routines, theatre productions, and musical ensembles. The production division will oversee every phase of development, ranging from original song composition and arrangements to record production released under its own independent record label.
Vocal placement and range management are critical components for singers working in tropical, Afro-Latin, and urban genres. Tropical music performers frequently undertake multi-city tours requiring daily live shows, where proper vocal hygiene and breath control prevent the development of vocal fold nodules and chronic fatigue.
The overarching goal of the combined project is to create a talent incubator specifically focused on tropical and Afro-Latin genres, while developing complete stage performance skills for rising artists.
Mentorship and advice for aspiring musicians
Pizarro emphasized that personal discipline is fundamental to the long-term growth of any musical artist. She explained that she tells her students that excellence is achieved through high demands, asserting that daily perseverance and consistency allow singers to reach higher levels of performance.
Reflecting on the pressure of performing live, Pizarro noted that while taking the stage at major venues is not easy, it is by no means impossible. She advised new generations of musicians to approach music with deep commitment, encouraging them to fight for their dreams, view music as a legitimate long-term career, and perform with passion in order to shine.
Offering a final message of motivation for young people seeking to build a career in the industry, Pizarro urged aspiring vocalists not to give up. She stated that if a person can speak, she can educate their voice and help them achieve their goals together.
