Kimberly (Berly) Deckman has been performing in the South Bay since she was 15 years old backing up her uncle, singing harmony and playing shaker. She has gone on to become a recipient of an Irene Ryan Kennedy Center Honor for Musical Theatre Performance for her 2017 performance as Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray, which granted her a full scholarship to CSUDH for Music Performance.

Berly is also a songwriter who released an album titled “What I look Like on the Inside” in 2019, and she has released multiple singles under her solo act OCTOBERLY, collaborating with Lofi Hip Hop and Jazz Hop artists such as AngryApplyLofi and SoftEyez. Her most recent single “Chamomile” was released in 2022. Berly performs and tours in the SoCal and NorCal area with her bands Sunshine Soul (Motown, Funk, Soul – 5 years) and 8 Bit Jazz Heroes (Video game Jazz Band – 3 years). 8 Bit Jazz Heroes has performed at huge events such as Anime Expo, MAGWest, and more.

Berly works with students to build stage presence and confidence, audition material, musicality, and vocal strength. She’s been teaching singing, theatre performance, guitar, piano and songwriting since 2014. She created a choral program at Gray School of Music in 2018 from the ground up, and enjoys working in groups and solo performance.

“As a child I never thought my voice could get “better”. Once I was put into a position to train the muscle when I joined theatre as a teen, I noticed my growth shortly after. I could hear my voice becoming stronger. It was then that I understood I was in control of my growth. I want to encourage students to see their own potential and to know what they want. Everyone has weaknesses, and they can all be improved with the power of confidence, focus and training.”