The vocal coach who helped Angelina Jolie and Timothee Chalamet sing on-screen

NEW YORK – “Help” is a word that American vocal coach Eric Vetro uses often to describe his contributions to the careers of celebrities.

This season alone, the 68-year-old has helped several actors with the musical demands of 2024 movie roles as varied as opera star Maria Callas (Angelina Jolie in Maria), singer-songwriter Bob Dylan (Timothee Chalamet in A Complete Unknown) and a young Good Witch of the West (Ariana Grande in Wicked).

He also worked with Monica Barbaro to honour American singer Joan Baez’s vibrato in A Complete Unknown and Nicholas Galitzine to become a boy band dreamboat in The Idea Of You.

During a recent video interview, Vetro’s high-profile resume came into sharp focus.

The memorabilia behind him in his Los Angeles home included a guitar that Canadian singer Shawn Mendes had given him. He proudly pointed to platinum records from the Recording Industry Association of America certifying a million in sales for Grande’s single The Way (2013) and Spanish singer Rosalia’s album Motomami (2022).

Then he turned to a wall of selfies with his famous students: “There is Katy Perry. Camila Cabello and Sabrina Carpenter are right here.”

He said his clients’ technical and emotional needs vary, and that holding their hands through the psychological ups and downs of being a famous talent is a big part of his work. So many jobs “rest on this one person’s success”, Vetro added. “That’s a tremendous amount of pressure.”

While growing up in upstate New York, there were early signs that Vetro was more into behind-the-scenes guidance than stardom. He would correct a cousin while they sang Christmas carols and lend a hand to friends learning songs for musicals.

As early as fifth grade, when a fellow student who was popular and athletic asked him for assistance with a song, Vetro remembered: “We just bonded. And that made me think, ‘I have something special here. This is my identity.’”

His parents were sceptical, especially his father. “He would say things like, ‘What makes you think that anybody of note would want to work with you?’” when, as a boy, he would bring up stars like American actress-singer Bette Midler as examples of people he wanted to work with.

Fast forward to today, and Midler is now a collaborator of more than 16 years. Other well-known clients include Oscar nominee Austin Butler (for 2022’s Elvis) and winner Renee Zellweger (for 2019’s Judy).

This awards season, though, after training multiple contenders, he seems especially stirred by his work with Jolie. “She spends a great deal of her time helping other people,” he said. “She puts everybody at ease.”

At first, the American movie star was blocked and fearful vocally. “She actually broke down and cried,” Vetro recalled.

His priority was getting her to understand her own voice to confidently hit high notes. While it is almost entirely Callas’ singing voice in Maria, Jolie sang her arias live on set, with director Pablo Larrain using bits of Jolie’s voice in the mix.

“Eric helped me to find my voice,” Jolie, an actual soprano, wrote in an e-mail. “I had never done the kind of work we did over seven months. He explains and is patient, but he is very serious about music. His passion is contagious.”

Vetro added: “The thing that was so hard – she had to sing exactly like Callas, holding the notes the same amount of time.”

The diligent work included studying a recording of a masterclass Callas taught and sessions with Vetro and American opera singer Lori Stinson. Finally, one day they had “that ‘aha’ moment when her voice opened up”.

Jolie recalled: “Eric pushed me and that was the kindest thing he could do. He helped me to take myself seriously as a singer.”

A Complete Unknown was a reunion for Vetro and American actor Chalamet, who had worked together on Wonka (2023). Vetro explained his philosophy: It is not about impersonation but capturing the unique essence of the performer.

Even as a rising singer-songwriter, Dylan combined a youthful voice and an old soul, Vetro said, adding: “Most people don’t have that in their voice, but Timmy caught onto it quickly.”

During their sessions, the two vocalised like the American music legend through songs and speech, doing constant comparisons with Dylan recordings. “Each week, Timmy captured it a little more.”

With English actor Galitzine, Vetro’s aim was to match the potential of his voice to that of a boy band star’s. “We tried to find that heart-throb energy that girls are going to scream for,” Vetro said. “But his character is much deeper than that, so I wanted to bring that into his voice.”

Working with songs by the experienced American hitmaker Savan Kotecha, they considered “how a mature relationship would change his singing. I wanted it to look effortless”.

With American actress-singer Grande, “it was never about making her a great singer”, Vetro said, praising her talent. Instead, his goal was to teach her the delicate art of healthy singing, maintaining her voice across a long career.

Wanting to protect her daughter’s voice, Grande’s mother was hesitant about singing lessons. But Vetro’s aim was to perfect the traditionally operatic sound of Glinda, with proper emphasis on high notes. Practising the catchy, humorous Popular from Wicked was especially fun.

“Ariana would try different things every time. They were all hilarious. Laughing so hard, I could barely play the piano sometimes.”

Vetro is not interested in helping only established performers. He started the BBC Maestro courses online to pay his career good fortune forward with 108 vocal exercises anyone can try.

He also created a scholarship programme at Gloversville High School – both to provide financial support and to raise the confidence of someone the way his own music teacher raised his. The money can go to voice lessons, schooling, even rent.

“I wanted it to be for anybody who wanted to pursue a career in the arts. It might inspire them to think, ‘If this stranger believes in my talent, maybe there’s going to be other people who do too.’”

It is all part of his passion for music, a delight he wants his famous students to share.

He said: “If you enjoy what you are doing daily, that is the biggest win, more exciting than an Oscar or Grammy.” NYTIMES