Do you have a question for Mark?  Ask it here.

This is a great question.  Here is a list of my favorites.  I've put a star next to the names of those I've heard in person.  I mention the show that I feel represents them well.

Women:
Patti Lupone* - Sweeney Todd - an actor who sings; always, always interesting
Victoria Clark* - Light in the Piazza - wonderful mix, fabulous technique
Kelli O'Hara* - Light in the Piazza - perfectly balanced voice.
Stepanie Block* - Pirate Queen, Wicked - Loud, soft and in between, terrific singer
Sutton Foster* (belt) - Drowsy Chaperone,  belts with the best of them and very smart
Shoshona Bean (belt) - Wicked - passion, passion, passion
Lea Salonga - (belt) - Les Miz

Men:
Brian Stokes Mitchell* - Man of La Mancha - The Quintessential Broadway Baritone
Mark Jacoby* - Sweeney Todd, Phantom, La Mancha - A master technician
Michael Ceveris* - Sweeney Todd - an actor who can sing anything
Michael Ball - Phantom - always a beautiful tone
George Hearn - Sweeney Todd - a singing actor from head to toe.
 

How frequently and for what duration should a voice student (12 year-old) practice?

Not knowing the 12 year old you speak of, I will allow myself to speak in general.  I would recommend that a 12 year old practice 2 or three times per day for 15 minutes at a time.  That time should be used for warming up, vocalizing (working on new skills) and singing song repertoire.  This is the time used for actual singing.  Other things can be done related to singing outside of that 45 minutes.  Time can be spent listening to singers who are expert at the style(s) you desire to master.  Time can be spent memorizing song rep.  Time can be spent working on musicianship, perhaps learning another instrument. And last but not least, time can be spent exercising your body.  Your body is your instrument.  If you are out of shape, it hinders your singing.

If the singer sings in choir for 45 minutes, has a show rehearsal after school and church choir at night, she's done enough.  (She's actually done too much.)

What does it feel like when you are breathing properly for singing? Anonymous

Dealing with "feel" is subjective.  The way you feel and the way I feel may be very different.  Breathing for singing can be learned from a structural standpoint.  First you want to make sure your posture is helping, not hindering.  Here's a brief checklist:

1. 1. Ears over your shoulders.

2. 2. Shoulders level.

3. 3. Chest comfortably high and open.

4. 4. Hips slightly tucked.

5. 5. Knees slightly bent.

6. 6. One foot slightly forward.

7. 7. Weight slightly forward.

If you had asked this question in my studio, I would ask you a few questions (or have you sing something that has given you difficulty so that I could see and hear for myself what you are doing.)  Many "breath" difficulties are caused, not by lack of air, but by lack of closure. The vocal folds can do three things, they stretch for pitch, thicken for power, and close for clarity.  If your voice is breathy, you're leaking too much air. If you're leaking too much air, you will run out of air quickly.  You can be the best "inhaler" on the planet, if you are leaking air, you will run out sooner than if you had developed closure and clarity.  In a nutshell, we want to develop a balance of airflow and resistance.

Will this (lessons) make me become a good singer? Anonymous

Good to some is bad to others.  I do my best to help singers improve on what they currently do and maximize their potential with the talent they have.

What age do you feel is a good age to start with lessons (for girls)?  Anonymous submission.

I accept children as students beginning at 7 years of age.  Contrary to some opinions, children can sing incorrectly.  They are influenced by every singing voice they hear.  I have had several young children come to me trying to sound like adults.  Over time, this heavy singing may cause damage.  Practice makes permanent.  Only perfect practice makes perfect.

What is new about your technique?  Submitted by Stephen.

The technique I teach is a distillation of the techniques I've studied. (Bel Canto, Broadway, Belt, Yawn Sigh (William Vennard via John Powell), Speech Level Singing (Seth Riggs via Wendy Parr), Swedish Italian (David Jones), Vocal Integration (Patrick Wickham), Art Song (Robert Gartside), Cornelius Reid via George Shirley, Germanic via Michael Trimble.  Each technique listed has its strengths.  I draw from these strengths to help singers improve and reach their goals.

How often should I take voice lessons?  Anonymous submission.

In general, it is the norm for students of voice to take one lesson per week.  This can vary depending upon a student's vocal state and/or ambition.  In years past, students would work with a teacher every day.  Because of monetary and time constraints, this is usually no longer possible.  Anything less that once a week is not very productive.  Bad habits easily return.  Positive reinforcement of good habits is essential for vocal progress.  I've been singing since childhood.  I began lessons 30 years ago, at 17 years of age.  I continue to take a weekly lesson.  It is easier to stay out of trouble with a weekly lesson than to correct problems after months or years of destructive singing.  Practice makes permanent.  Whether you practice correct singing or destructive singing, if you practice something over and over, it will become permanent. Only perfect practice makes perfect.  Stay out of trouble, take a weekly lesson with a qualified teacher.