The Lopez Studio Review

WE LOVE LOVE LOVE Lopez Studios! My niece has been involved with Lopez for 3 years now and she loves it. The owners are really nice, personable, and have created a family atmosphere. We travel all the way from Purceville to attend their programs because there is nothing like it in our area. She has participated in Theater Classes as well as their summer camps. Very professional and she has made life long friends. My only criticism is that I wish they would create a facility closer to where we live but in the meantime we will continue to travel to participate in their programs!

Hi, I was at Lopez studios when I was in kindergarten to fifth grade and I made a lot of good friendships and I was able to have the basic singing and acting skills needed so I could go off and do other acting and singing related things. I thank lopez for giving me the structure for becoming actor, singer, dancer and even a good person. Thank you!

The lessons here are a complete waste of time and money. I took vocal lessons here for 4 years, and I eventually left. Why? It was $150 for 30 minutes of horrible lessons. They didn't teach me anything! I found out because I transferred to a new teacher that taught me BASIC technique that I should've learned a while ago. AKA using your larynx to not strain your voice. My new voice teacher pointed out all the bad habits from singing that I had. I literally went into (old teacher) LOPEZ vocal lessons to sing some stupid broadway song they give me to sing, and I leave. No technique training. It shows too!!! At their stupidly religious recitals they do, none of the kids know how to properly sing and are straining their voices until their faces turn red. Wow. Are you going to be happy when all of your former students get nodes? They obviously aren't trained well to I don't know.. TEACH ME HOW TO SING. Also, all of their good students are leaving because Mrs. Kessler and Mrs. Konovolav left, SAD. Don't get me started on makeup lessons. I missed some lessons and they always say that they will make them up.. THEY NEVER DO! EVEN WHEN THEY MISS! PAYING $150 FOR LESSONS THEY OR I COULDN"T BE AT! I even asked to makeup, and my teacher said that there is no time. WELL MAKE TIME YOU MONEY HUNGRY OPERATION! Please find better instructors for god sake. I can't say what a waste this really was for me. I am sorry to the instructors for speaking honestly, they are very nice, just too money hungry for me.

Both my daughter and son have participated in various programs over the years! In particular, they loved having semi private lessons with Mr. Lopez and just LOVE him! The prices maybe slightly higher then some of the other schools in the area but the quality equals the additional cost as well as he over all experiences they offer!

Can't say enough great things about this school. My 2 daughters both attended Lopez Studios several years ago and still talk about their experience. They both are now in college and one is majoring in dance and the other vocal performance. Their initial experience in the arts was at Lopez where they studied voice and piano and then eventually became part of the theatre program. They LOVED every minute of it. Great instructors, honest, reliable, and my girls learned everything they needed to excel in college! Thank you for all you have done for our family. We are truly grateful!

AMAZING school with great students! Would highly recommend. My son spent 5 years at Lopez until we had to move to PA. He was devastated but has memories that will last a lifetime! We miss you Lopez Studios!

I was a student here years ago and took voce and piano lessons. I learned so much during my time at Lopez and loved working with all of the instructors and also had a chance to work with Mr. Lopez. He is AMAZING! I have yet to find a performing arts school that matches their skill and passion and I have tried many in the area. There is definitely something special about this place beyond the programs they offer. I would highly recommend!

Steer as clear as you can from this money-hungry and chaotic operation.

1. Be prepared to sign long-term contracts that lock you in on voice lessons whether you'e happy with the instruction or not.

2. The "auditions" for stage musicals favor tall children over talented ones. Staff admitted this to me. My daughter has been asked to record with major university music conservatories and has a strong following on social media. Twice selected to All County Chorus and All District Chorus. She's shorter than the performers who can't sing, so too bad for her. Even so, she makes it second in line for the lead, so they stick her with a role with one line. Three weeks in a drama camp for a role with one line (you can't withdraw from camp without paying the total fee by their infamous contracts). So we keep her in so at least she can be with friends.

3. The summer musical camp is so insanely chaotic and disorganized that Sesame Street could run a better (and more entertaining) camp.

Some examples:

1. Events are "maybes" and thrown together at the last minute. A field trip was "dependent on whether we can get tickets" and then a day before parents are told to make sure to pick up their kids early and drive their kids across town from Reston to Alexandria in rush-hour traffic to attend.

2. Parents are not notified of special travel requirements until the last minute, and the requirements are insane.

Example: "Be sure to pick up your child in Manassas by 2:30 during the week! (What? Where did Manassas come from? The camp is in Reston!). "You are responsible for transportation" (Wait, some of us are actually employed in jobs, and could you have warned us about this like BEFORE CAMP BEGAN?) "Pick up your child at 10:30 PM from Manassas. (What???!!) Manassas is 25 miles from the camp location!

3. My daughter has a life-threatening food allergy to milk. After acknowledging that campers have allergies, the camp director cheerfully announced that "pizza will be served!" (Which would drive my daughter into anyphalactic shock and death within 7 minutes.) When I ask the camp director about getting a sandwich for her instead so that, you know, she won't die, he said "I have to get authorization from Mr. Lopez." Really? So a camper doesn't die?

Best line at the end of this conversation: (him speaking to me): "You could look into other options for her yourself!"

4. Files, pictures and bios that are turned in on time are missed, filed incorrectly or lost, so you get perpetual warnings to submit material you've already submitted.

I cannot stress enough how honestly chaotic, crazy, disorganized and insane this whole operation really is. And expensive! It's painfully understaffed, so everything they can foist off on other people they do. Everything they can dump on parents in terms of responsibilities will be dumped on parents. There are terrific and well-run camps in this area (TIC is highly recommended) -- send your child to a camp where insanity and chaos are not the rule.

Great school! Both of my children have participated in various programs at Lopez and we have loved the professionalism and the skill of all the instructors there! Both of my children have fallen in love with music and the arts because of the experience there! Once very shy kids have now come out of their shell and are happy! This is all a parent hopes for! Thank you Lopez Studios for doing what you do and for the positive influence you have made in my children's lives and in the lives of others! They will never be the same!!!!

I have 2 children that have been involved in various programs at Lopez including, vocal and piano lessons, their theater program and several of their free workshops! I can't say enough of how impressed we have been with their professionalism, their dedication to performing arts education, and their character emphasis. Their instructors are incredible, patient, and nice but also are extremely knowledgeable and experienced.I am particularly sad to see the couple of negative reviews as I do understand and have seen for my self "Stage Parents" who when their child does not get the part or the role they want want to lash out. This is really sad. We have been apart of the studio for almost 10 years and continue to refer others who have also enjoyed their experience. Lopez does not play favorites and they cast children in the roles they see fit. My children have been in several of their professional productions and were never cast as lead roles although they wanted them. The talent and competition is tough there (as i explained to my children) yet they still thrived and loved being apart of such a great organization. They were not able to attend last summer's camp as we were going out of the country and they both cried when my husband and I told them! Keep doing what you are doing Lopez Studios as you have blessed our family in ways we can never repay! Thank you!

Best Performing Arts School in the area! I started with the school 8 years ago when I wanted my then 9 year old to experience the performing arts. Now, up until then the only thing he knew was sports and literally cried and begged me not to go to a performing arts camp but he wanted another soccer camp. We enrolled him anyway as we had paid for it! The first day was rough BUT after the second day of camp it was like we had another child. We originally signed him up for 1 week and he begged us to add on another week, then another week. Long story short he spent most of the summer at Lopez that year and now a 17 year old who has done theater in his school as well as community theater and NOW plans to major in musical theater in college! I cant thank Lopez enough for accepting my child and giving him the love of the arts! We are forever grateful and are still in touch with the instructors there!

The teachers there aren't the nicest, the only one I really liked was Mr. Lopez himself. They only pick the most talented kids for their plays, and don't even let the not-so talented kids be in the ensemble! They also give the good roles to the people they already know, and they admitted this to me! But piano lessons are worth the money, they are excellent! Don't get me wrong, this place is great! Just JTF seems a little unfair and I suggest they change it.

I have 2 children that have been involved in various programs at Lopez including, vocal and piano lessons, their theater program and several of their free workshops! I can't say enough of how impressed we have been with their professionalism, their dedication to performing arts education, and their character emphasis. Their instructors are incredible, patient, and nice but also are extremely knowledgeable and experienced We have been apart of the studio for almost 10 years and continue to refer others who have also enjoyed their experience. Lopez does not play favorites and they cast children in the roles they see fit. My children have been in several of their professional productions and were never cast as lead roles although they wanted them. The talent and competition is tough there (as i explained to my children) yet they still thrived and loved being apart of such a great organization. They were not able to attend last summer's camp as we were going out of the country and they both cried when my husband and I told them! Keep doing what you are doing Lopez Studios as you have blessed our family in ways we can never repay! Thank you!

I just have to say that WE LOVE THIS PLACE! My wife and I were both Coaching students of Mr. Lopez and he is not only gifted in teaching but has created an atmosphere of family! We are both in our 60's and just wanted to learn how to sing. I cant tell you how much we enjoyed our time and learned so much! Thank you Lopez Studios! What an experience!

Lopez is the best place to go for acting, singing, and dancing! They have great Summer camps, and the JTF experience is the best. I highly recommend it to all.!!!

I have been a student here for years and especially enjoyed the summer camps! This place is awesome and I have so many great memories. I also have learned a lot and love the instructors and the Director. I highly recommend!

The BEST arts school ever! My children have been so happy here for 4 years and have grown so much as performers! As a parent my investment has been returned double fold with happy children and better performers than when they started! Thank you Lopez for being apart of our children s life and education!

Love this place! We are fairly new to Lopez Studios but my son has flourished in the past 8 months. We enrolled before COVID-19 hit and they had to move all classes and lessons virtually. Initially we were sad about not having lessons in person but even virtual my son soared. The instructors are professional and the transition from in person instruction to virtual instruction was effortless. He has met great new friends and feels apart of a family.We highly recommend Lopez Studios to anyone interested in the arts.

Very professional school. I happen to be invited to one the school's theatre performances and was blown away by the talent. I also happen to meet the owners who are very pleasant, personable and really appear to love the students. The students also seem to be very happy. Can't wait for your next performance! If I had kids, they would be here!

I actually used to really like this place. It has always been overpriced but I used to enjoy doing JTF, the shows, as well as voice lessons. Although, when the artistic director left and it s now just a bunch of 5 year olds doing it and the new director makes it not professional at all. They claim it s competitive but it s truly a joke now. I still take lessons and i adore acting lessons but voice lessons... kinda a waste of money. They make you pay a lot but the lessons don t teach me ANYTHING. I literally go there to do warmups, sing a song (while my teacher is on their phone) and leave. My parents are paying for lessons to actually teach me things like vocal technique, how to not strain when belting(they don t teach you that at all and many kids sing unhealthily), and learning music and being able to find good audition songs. Once Jennifer Kessler left, things went downhill.... I m probably not going to continue voice lessons here and i ve already stopped with doing the shows and such. Not worth the money or time for horrible instruction...

Great programs, great teachers, and great school! I attended 2 of their year end recitals and 3 of their musical productions! Amazing! Can t wait to see the next performance! Their students are very talented! Really impressed!

I love lopezstudiosinc because it is an amazing place to learn about music and all of the people you meet automatically become your family no matter what. Recently I have been in two of there lcp productions and I am so glad I came. It is so fun and you make really great friendships.

Love this place! My grandchildren have been students here for years and I have always been impressed with their programs as well as with the owners. I particular love watching their theatre shows...so much talent there!

This school is amazing! The owners are dedicated and they have incredible instructors! All 3 Of my children have taking acting lessons and vocal lessons and also have participated in several years of their amazing summer camps! They have grown tremendously in their skills and we could not recommend them more!

Lopez is by far the best school for the performing arts in Northern Virginia.The talent that is produced from this school is phenomenal. This speaks to their great instructors but more than that to their philosophy of character development. The owners are kind, knowledgable and always available for any comments or concerns. My 3 children have benefitted greatly and I could not recommend them more. They should be 10 STARS in my book!