Anne Walsh

Born Anne Valerie Walsh in Worcester, Massachusetts into a musical family ( her father Frank was a baritone/tenor who sang the lead in many productions for local light opera companies ) where she was encouraged by her grandmother to enter show business.
Early on, Anne’s parents knew they had a singer on their hands. After taking her to see a local production of “Oklahoma” she continued to sing the melodies from the score all the way home. Anne humorously recalls “At age seven, I wanted to be Shirley Jones”.
After her high school choir girl days, Anne went on to attend Anna Maria College where she studied voice and music therapy. “I received my degree for my parents’ peace of mind. They wanted me to have something to fall back on”. However, she wanted more in the form of a performance career. After graduation the determined young singer ventured out to southern California to pursue her dream.
Upon arriving in LA, she put her degree to work helping people through the use of music therapy; while in the evenings taking any stage with an open mic she could find, and heeding the advice of her favorite voice teacher back home “Anne, sing at any dog show you can find.”
Anne soon found her voice driving a forgettable classic rock band, but in time realized it wasn’t the best use of her talents. A musician colleague suggested she enroll at Orange Coast College, where she met the head of the jazz department, Dr. Rutherford. After hearing Anne’s audition, he invited her to his improv class, and she gave voice to the top big band on Saturday mornings.
While performing in a winter concert with the OCC Big Band, a percussionist in the audience took note of her voice. “You need to audition for Sal at Carmello’s,” he said. That following weekend, Anne finally landed her first real jazz gig by way of Brazil. This was her introduction to the world of Jobim, Dori Caymmi, Basia, and Flora Purim. “The experience of singing Brazilian music gave my voice a freedom I had never known before.”
Despite the doors that were opening, Anne felt she needed to further her education and pursued a Master’s degree in music, doing so at Cal State Long Beach. There, she trained her voice in the bel canto style with Marvelee Cariaga. “Opera is huge endeavor. It strengthened my voice in ways I could not have imagined.”
It was at this time, with the encouragement of her voice teacher, that Anne began auditioning for roles in light operas and musicals. After performing soubrette roles of Despina and Zerlina in Mozart operas, Anne decided to focus more on musicals, landing lead roles in "Music Man" (Mariane), "Sound of Music" (Maria) and "She Loves Me" (Amalia), to name a few. (Anne continues to enjoy performing in regional musical theatre.)
After receiving her master’s degree, Anne resumed her original career plan, landing a gig with a local quintet, where she met her future husband, pianist Tom Zink.
At this time, with her wealth of vocal knowledge, Anne began teaching voice to other aspiring singers. She was soon hired at the American Music and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles; a college for the performing arts, and currently resides there on the faculty. All the while holding on to the dream she had back in Worcester to create her own sound by heading up her own band, and taking control of her musical journey.
Presently, among gigs at the Carpenter Center, Long Beach and various clubs including Spaghettini’s, Anne is coproducing along with her husband an album project which will include the music of such jazz luminaries as Keith Jarrett, Sergio Mendez, and Don Grolnick.
In addition to her two previous concept recordings of lullabies and sacred music, including “Parents’ Choice Award Winner” “Baby Mine”, and soon to be released “Be Still My Soul”, Anne is well on her way to fulfilling her ambitions as a “Singer’s Singer.”