EXPERTISE

Acting: helping students deepen their drama and heighten their humor through text work and character building
Voice: training classical voice fundamentals like projection, enunciation, and confidence, as well as introducing advanced practices like breathwork and character voice
Ballot Breakdowns: turning criticism into actionable opportunities for growth
Mental strategies: imparting practical advice about succeeding in a subjective competition, processing criticism or rejection, and finding clarity about what one can and cannot control in this environment

Bronwyn Doebbeling

DI, DUO, POI, Pr/Po

Short Bio:

I am a classically-trained professional actor and the Speech coach for Stuyvesant H.S. in New York City. I have my Master’s degree from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), where I also earned a certification for teaching public speaking/performance to students ages 8+.

I coach all speech events, but my personal favorites are DI, Duo, and POI. During my high school career, I championed numerous national tournaments including Harvard, Stanford and James Logan, won the Arizona State Championship, and am a two-time NSDA national semifinalist. Most of my senior year I was triple-entered at tournaments and broke to late outrounds in all three events, winning me several personal sweepstakes awards.

I’ve been lucky enough to work with some incredible students, some of whom reached the NSDA Final round. My first year coaching at Stuyvesant H.S. I qualified nine students to nationals and coached three New York State champions, as well as three NCFL National semifinalists.

Coaching Philosophy:

I work with students on their level and prioritize their passions and interests. None of my students receive materials pre-cut, and I take a great deal of care working with them on piece selection, cut refinement, and story structure. A student’s feelings of ownership and identification with a speech can change their performance drastically. Rather than helping students “win,” I help them find something in their script or delivery that lights their heart on fire… and competitive success inevitably follows.

I am constantly asking questions, engaging with a student’s personal interests, and helping them to feel safe taking the creative risks that make them stand out, both in competition and in life.