Our STORY
Where It All Began
Aspire was born in the summer of 2022 out of a simple but powerful observation: the musical theatre college audition process is overwhelming — and students and families shouldn't have to navigate it alone, piecemeal, or by guesswork.
Cynthia Kortman Westphal and Chelsea Wilson — the founders of Broadway Vocal Coach — saw the gap. Students were cobbling together private coaches, repertoire guidance, essay help, and school list strategy from a dozen different sources with no single thread connecting it all. So they built one: a boutique, all-inclusive audition prep program where everything a student and family needed lived in one place.
The mission since that very first summer has never changed: We help you find a program that values your worth and allows you to thrive.
My Journey to Aspire
Hi, I'm Julie Kavanagh — performer, educator, Aspire Program Director, sushi enthusiast, and Jurassic Park fan. 🦖 And the owner of Aspire College Auditions.
For the past decade, I've had the joy of helping students and families navigate the musical theatre college audition process — and I've seen this journey from just about every side of the table. I went through it myself without a roadmap, and I never forgot what that felt like. That experience is what drew me to this work, and what has kept me here.
My performing career has taken me across the country on three Broadway First National Tours — Mrs. Doubtfire (as Dance Captain), Hello, Dolly!, and La Cage aux Folles — alongside years spent in studios and rehearsal rooms working with young artists. Aspire is where all of those passions meet. 🧡
I joined Aspire in 2023 as Head Coach, became Program Director in 2024, and in 2026 took over as owner — grateful every day to Cynthia and Chelsea for the foundation they built and for entrusting me with this next chapter.
What Aspire Is Today
Aspire is a five-month musical theatre college audition prep program running each summer from June through October. We work with just 12 students each year — intentionally small, so every student feels seen, our team can collaborate closely, and the support is real, specific, and personal.
No more cobbling together coaching, repertoire, essays, and strategy from a dozen different sources. We've thought of everything — so your focus can stay where it belongs: on sharing what makes you uniquely you, and finding a program that will celebrate that.
We are BFA grads, Broadway performers, dance captains, national tour veterans, voice teachers, and parents. We have stood exactly where your student is standing. And we are here — all of us — for every step of the way.
Meet the ASPIRE team!
Julie Kavanagh
Aspire Owner & Director
Julie has spent the past decade guiding students and families through the musical theatre college audition process—bringing experience from every side of the table. Having navigated the journey herself and earned her BFA in Musical Theatre from CCM (University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music), she understands just how layered—and personal—this process can be.
As a performer, Julie has toured the country on three Broadway First National Tours (Mrs. Doubtfire, Hello, Dolly!, and La Cage aux Folles) and appeared at leading regional theatres including The Old Globe, Goodspeed Opera House, Paper Mill Playhouse, and The MUNY. Favorite roles include Peggy Sawyer (42nd Street), Roxie (Chicago), Audrey (Little Shop of Horrors), and Adelaide (Guys and Dolls).
There’s a phrase that has stuck with Julie for years: Take the work seriously—but don’t take yourself too seriously. That philosophy sits at the core of her coaching.
She holds her students to a high standard and challenges them to grow, stretch, and show up fully prepared. At the same time, she believes this work has to be rooted in joy. At the end of the day, they’re telling stories—and when that sense of joy is present, the work becomes more honest, alive, and compelling.
Julie is the go-to for all things Aspire—from building school lists to navigating prescreens, repertoire, scheduling, and the many moving parts of audition season. Her coaching is highly individualized and strategy-driven, focused on breaking overwhelming steps into clear, actionable plans so students and families feel supported, prepared, and grounded throughout the journey.
Originally from St. Louis, Julie now lives just outside of NYC with her husband.
🦖 Fun fact about Julie walked down the aisle to the Jurassic Park theme—and loves making sushi at home with her husband.
Marjorie Failoni
Aspire Dance Coach &
Program Coordinator
Marjorie is a New York-based performer, choreographer, and educator who brings both precision and joy to her work with students. A graduate of the University of Michigan with a BFA in Musical Theatre, she has built a career that spans Broadway, national tours, choreography, and top-tier training programs.
As a performer, Marjorie appeared on Broadway in Escape to Margaritaville (Dance Captain/Swing, Tammy understudy) and served as Dance Captain on the national tours of Disney’s High School Musical and 9 to 5. Her work has taken her to stages across the country, including the Kennedy Center, The Muny, Paper Mill Playhouse, and Radio City Music Hall.
Her choreography credits include Frozen (Syracuse Stage), Christmas in Connecticut (Goodspeed Opera House), which earned her a Connecticut Critics Circle Award nomination, and a new adaptation of The Little Mermaid for Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish. She is currently on faculty at Broadway Dance Center and has taught at Steps on Broadway and the Joffrey Summer Intensive.
Marjorie has an innate ability to help students shine in their dance prescreens—whether they’ve been dancing since age three or just began training this year. She meets each student exactly where they are and helps them grow into confident, compelling performers.
At Aspire, she is also an integral part of the team and day-to-day operations, helping ensure everything runs smoothly while supporting both students and coaches throughout the process.
Originally from St. Louis, Marjorie and Julie grew up performing together!
✨Fun fact about Marjorie: Her very first job was as a child hand model.
Kaitlyn Davis
Aspire Voice Coach &
Performance Coch
Kaitlyn is a New York-based performer, educator, and songwriter with a dynamic career spanning Broadway national tours, regional theatre, and the recording studio. She holds a Master of Music in Opera from Rutgers University and a B.S. in Music Education from Hofstra University, grounding her work in both classical training and contemporary performance.
As a performer, Kaitlyn starred as Christine Daaé in the North American Tour of The Phantom of the Opera, where she had the opportunity to perform for Andrew Lloyd Webber at the Kennedy Center. She also starred as Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at major regional theatres across the country and understudied both Carole King and Cynthia Weil on the national tour. Her performance as Carole King earned her a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Performer in a Principal Role: Musical.
Kaitlyn brings both technical excellence and real-world industry experience into her coaching, helping students build strong, healthy vocal technique while also developing artistry and confidence in performance. In addition to her theatre work, she is a passionate indie pop artist with original music available on all streaming platforms.
A few fun facts about Kaitlyn:
🐸 She has a pet toad named Small Daphne, who she is OBSESSED with (and who is indifferent towards her at best)
📚 She loves fantasy novels
Bre Jackson
Aspire Performance Coach
Bre Jackson is a New York-based performer, educator, and coach who brings bold artistry, deep experience, and infectious joy into every room she works in. An alum of the University of Michigan with a BFA in Musical Theatre, Bre has built a dynamic career across Broadway, national tours, international stages, and television.
On Broadway, she has appeared in MJ The Musical, SIX The Musical (as Catherine of Aragon), The Book of Mormon, and The Color Purple, where she also understudied Cynthia Erivo as Celie. Her work has taken her around the world, including starring as Effie in Dreamgirls on the South Korean Tour, touring nationally in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, performing in the world premiere of The Heart at La Jolla Playhouse, and appearing in the upcoming premiere of the new musical Giulia at PAC NYC. She also appeared on television in Jesus Christ Superstar: Live in Concert on NBC alongside John Legend.
Bre helps students find their strength, their voice, and their individuality in the work. Her approach is rooted in clarity, authenticity, and empowerment—guiding students to make bold, specific choices while fully embracing who they are as performers. She creates an environment where students feel both challenged and supported, and where their true selves can come forward in joyful, compelling ways.
♑️ A few fun facts about Bre: She’s a Capricorn through and through—and never turns down a bag of plain kettle chips.
Grace Morgan
Aspire Performance Coach
Grace Morgan is a New York–based theatre performer and educator. A graduate of the University of Michigan’s Musical Theatre program, she brings both professional experience and a grounded, human-centered approach to her work with students.
Grace spent years traveling North America as the alternate for Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera. Most recently, she made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s star-studded concert of Rogers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma. Her performance career also includes Sandy in Grease (Forestburgh Playhouse), Belle in A Christmas Carol (Denver Center for the Performing Arts), Anne Egerman in A Little Night Music (Indiana Repertory Theatre), Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly! (Beef & Boards), and Titanic at New York City Center Encores!.
As a mentor, Grace is known for helping students feel steady, supported, and seen in a process that can often feel overwhelming. She brings a calming presence to coaching and focuses on building confidence through clarity, encouragement, and thoughtful preparation—helping students stay connected to their artistry as they navigate each step with intention.
Originally from the Midwest, Grace is raising her two young children with her husband—her college sweetheart.
🎤 Fun fact: Grace is also featured on the GRAMMY Award–winning KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack. How COOL?!
Joe Chisholm
Aspire Monologue Coach
Joe is a New York–based actor and educator. He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and an MFA in Acting from Drama Centre London, where he also spent time studying and working in Moscow.
As a performer, Joe has originated multiple Off-Broadway roles and appeared at regional theatres across the country. Favorite credits include Jonathan in tick, tick…BOOM!, Berger in HAIR, and Dr. Pomatter in Waitress. Internationally, he has performed as Orsino in Twelfth Night at the Studio Theatre in London and Ivanov in Ivanov at the Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow.
Joe brings a highly text-driven and story-focused approach to coaching. His work centers on helping students return to the root of the material—whether through the script or the lyrics—so they can make clear, grounded, and authentic choices. He has a particular gift for helping students break down language in a way that unlocks both specificity and emotional truth, ensuring that their performances feel honest, connected, and intentional.
Joe is also a founder and entrepreneur, running two tech companies alongside his work in the arts.
🐶 Fun Fact: Joe and Julie auditioned for CCM right after each other! But most importantly, his Goldendoodle, Islay, makes frequent Zoom appearances and insists on being part of the process whenever possible.