Meet Charlotte Bash | Music and Theater Educator, Vocalist, and Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Charlotte Bash and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Charlotte, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
We spend such a significant portion of our lives working, so I’ve always wanted a career that allows me to pursue my passions. Music and theater give my life meaning. I find immense joy in writing, performing, and helping my students discover their voices by amplifying their strengths and nurturing their confidence. I’m deeply grateful that my work feels not just productive, but purposeful.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I began my artistic journey as a theater kid, performing in 1-3 musicals per year from the time I was 6-17 years old. When I went to college, I majored in classical voice with the goal of becoming a professional opera singer. My degree program gave me a strong technical foundation, but it also helped me realize that I didn’t want to focus solely on opera.

After moving back to LA, I continued singing opera, but I also started writing original indie pop music. I’ve always loved moving between opera, pop, and musical theater because each genre influences me in a different way. Singing opera gives me a strong technical foundation while also pulling me into its emotional intensity. Musical theater, the first love of my life, is where I completely nerd out. Pop excites me when it’s edgy, and I love a great hook. I’m especially drawn to the cinematic potential of weaving orchestral elements into contemporary songs. Borrowing influences across these traditions keeps my work grounded in history and alive in the present.

I started teaching private voice lessons and directing children’s theatre and ensemble performances to support myself between singing jobs and songwriter showcases. In 2016, I was asked to coach students with special needs to perform alongside the late Mary Wilson of The Supremes. This experience was a turning point because it showed me how transformative music education and performance can be. In 2023, I earned a Master of Education in Special Education. Today, I write, perform, teach private singing and songwriting lessons, and serve as the Director of Performing Arts at a special education school in Los Angeles.

My path hasn’t always been easy, but staying true to who I am always leads me where I need to be. Performing, teaching, directing, and writing build on one another, giving me a deeper creative perspective and sense of purpose. At the heart of everything I do is a belief that art should resonate on a deep emotional level while also sparking childlike joy. Recently, I’ve been developing original plays and musicals that reflect my passion for storytelling, education, and community, and I’m excited to see where this next chapter leads.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to visit Los Angeles, I’d plan a week long itinerary that’s rooted in what makes LA unique, and also, what sets LA apart from their own city. I’m not going to take a New Yorker out for bagels and Italian in LA. While LA has a lot of amazing food, I think our Japanese (especially sushi), Korean, and Mexican food scenes are in an elite league of their own.

Also, traffic across the city can be brutal. It’s important to keep each day grouped by area to avoid the dreaded back-and-forth between neighborhoods like Downtown and Santa Monica. That makes the city feel way more overwhelming than it needs to be!

We’d kick off the week in Mid City West. I’d take them to grab a breakfast burrito from Cofax, an açai bowl from Backyard Bowls, or a smoothie from Erewhon so they can decide for themselves if it’s worth the hype. From there, we could spend the day wandering around LACMA and/or shopping on Melrose, and wrap up at The Grove and the Original Farmers Market.

The next day, we’d head to Koreatown. We’d spend the early afternoon relaxing at a Korean spa. Whenever I travel, I love checking out the unique spas that each city has to offer, and our Korean spas are definitely the most unique in LA. Then, we’d go full feast mode at a Korean BBQ spot. In the evening, we’d stay in Koreatown for karaoke, or roll into Hollywood to check out a rooftop bar, or catch a show at the Pantages, Hollywood Bowl, Hotel Cafe, or Sound.

Midweek, I’d plan a day trip to Santa Barbara, or head down to Disneyland. We could also do an overnight in Joshua Tree to visit the Integratron for a sound bath and general desert energy reset.

Later in the week, I’d take them to the Eastside and San Gabriel Valley. I’d start out in Highland Park with coffee at Civil Coffee or Kindness and Mischief, and then spend time checking out the murals and shops… but not too much time, because we’d need to get to the Huntington Gardens for afternoon tea and of course, walking around the gardens and museum!

As the weekend rolls in, I’d plan a full Westside day: Wandering the Venice Canals, catching some sun on the beach (with my UV umbrella), and doing a sunset hike nearby before wrapping up in Sawtelle for dinner.

Obviously, the goal is for my friend to go home as exhausted as possible.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So much of who I am is shaped by the people around me. I’m very lucky to have loving and supportive parents. My dad taught me to be resilient, and he instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility, work ethic, and the importance of doing meaningful work. My mom taught me how to find humor in the dark and how to see who people truly are on the inside. Both of my parents have never missed a single show of mine. My sister is also always there for me, especially when I need her the most. She encourages me to embrace the finer things in life and indulge a little.

I have so many incredible friends who genuinely care about trying to understand every part of me. We keep each other healthy, grounded, and motivated to embark on new adventures together. I’m very excited about a new women’s empowerment group I recently started, which has quickly become something I look forward to every month.

I’m grateful for my students, who I’m convinced teach me more than I teach them, and for my colleagues and collaborators who keep me working, grounded, and inspired. They’ve not only pushed me creatively, but they’ve also encouraged me to pursue additional paths, like getting my teaching credential and my master’s degree.

And of course, I need to give a shout out to some of the artists who have inspired and shaped me: Maria Callas, Renée Fleming, Puccini, Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, Julie Andrews, Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, Lana Del Rey, Lane 8, Odesza, and Rodgers & Hammerstein. Each artist has influenced me in a unique way and shaped how I approach music. I’m equally influenced by authors like Judy Blume, Lisa See, and Paulo Coelho, who made me fall in love with the art of storytelling and how words alone can be so powerful in connecting us.

Website: www.charlottebash.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/charlottebash

Facebook: www.facebook.com/charlottebash

Youtube: www.youtube.com/thecharlottebash

Other: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/charlotte-bash/740159354 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6NE4h4AuzdzHatS0fNKJOE?si=VhpDgSTGSVyC_cT9rDrafA