A young entrepreneur from Aberystwyth has started her a vocal coaching business with support from the Welsh Government’s Big Ideas Wales service and plans to open her own vocal studio.

Magdalena Mazur, 26 and originally from Poland, has been so overwhelmed with new clients since launching her vocal coaching business, Vocalize, she’s been able to increase her working hours from part time to full time.

Vocalize predominately offers vocal coaching on a one-to-one basis, but Magdalena has also introduced group workshops locally in Aberystwyth. 

Magdalena said: “I’ve been singing my whole life, but I didn’t consider vocal coaching as a career until after graduating from music school in Poland. I moved to the area seven years ago to do a degree in Drama Theatre and Performance at Aberystwyth University and soon joined a band with a group of friends. A few of them asked if I would tutor them and I loved the idea of being able to share what I know about singing, which I’m so passionate about. The whole business developed from there.”

Magdalena teaches a range of people from 10-65 years old and is currently running a mobile business but she’s on the search for a studio in Aberystwyth to become Vocalize’s official premises.

“I love working in Aberystwyth, but it has been and continues to be a big challenge finding a suitable space to teach. By opening my own studio, I can create the perfect space for my students to get the most out of the sessions.

“Ultimately I would love to open a vocal studio where students could benefit from having lessons with a variety of coaches teaching different techniques.”

Magdalena started her business at the age of 23 with the help of Big Ideas Wales, the youth entrepreneurship service in Wales. Big Ideas Wales is part of Business Wales and is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. The service is aimed at anyone between the age of 5 and 25 who wants to develop a business idea.

Magdalena found out about the service through her own research and she contacted them to see what support she could receive. Talking about Big Ideas Wales, Magdalena said: “I’ve found the service very beneficial and they really motivated me to keep working harder and developing my business.”

Earlier this year, Magdalena joined 30 other young businesspeople at the Bootcamp to Business residential event in the Urdd Centre in Bala, a fully funded three-day workshop hosted by Big Ideas Wales. Bootcamp gives young entrepreneurs the chance to learn and hone their business skills with advice and mentoring from successful Welsh businesspeople.

Speaking of the experience, Magdalena said: “As well as learning a lot at Bootcamp about how to develop my business, I was also awarded accelerator support which was hugely helpful in allowing me to attend further vocal training to support my teaching. “Bootcamp was a brilliant experience as it gave me further confidence in my business and showed me the potential of Vocalize.”

“Bootcamp was a brilliant experience as it gave me further confidence in my business and showed me the potential of Vocalize.”

Magdalena is hoping to develop her skills further by completing a Masters in Professional Voice Practice at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. She will be studying part-time alongside running her business in west Wales.

Magdalena said: “I am happy with how the business is developing, but through gaining more qualifications and improving my skills alongside running Vocalize, I hope it can help the business in the long run.”

David Bannister, Big Ideas Wales business advisor, said: “Magdalena is highly skilled and motivated to provide the best service she can, through continuing to train alongside running the business. I wish her all the best for the future and I am looking forward to seeing how the business develops.”

Magdalena finished by saying: “The people I teach have a variety of goals from school performances and auditions, as well as older people who didn’t get the chance to follow their dream when they were younger. I get a real sense of pride when my students achieve their goals and it makes all the hard work worth it.”