Breakout Session
Teaching Transgender Singers: A Panel of Four Experts
Sunday, June 24 • 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Presenters: Loraine Sims, Liz Jackson Hearns, Brian Kremer, and Rachel Inselman
Introduced by: Carole Blankenship
Location: Partagas
We would like to address many facets of teaching transgender singers including what language is transgender-affirming and what's harmful, how to approach repertoire selections, the importance of taking a thorough student history, marketing in a transgender-affirming way, how to welcome transgender students in your studio, creating a transgender-affirming space, becoming more transgender competent, guiding singers’ voices through medical transition, the effects of hormone therapy, binders and waist trainers, using gender neutral designations in rehearsals, and many more ideas to help voice faculty teach transgender students.
VIEW PRESENTATIONS/HANDOUTS
Inselman - Endocrinologist and Hormone Replacement Therapy
Inselman - Hormonal Therapy for Transgender Singers
Inselman - Transgender Binders
Inselman - Transgender Individuals and Mental Health
Inselman - Transgender Waist Training and Corsets
Sims - Teaching Transgender Students: What every music educator should know
Kremer - Gender Self-Reflection Worksheet
About Loraine Sims
Loraine Sims is Associate Professor/Vocal Studies Division Chair at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Recent performances include “Comedy in Song: Humorous Art Songs in English” for the 2016 National NATS Conference and a repeat performance for the 2017 ICVT in Stockholm, Sweden. Professional activities include “Training Transgender Singers for Opera Performance: Gender Bending Beyond the Pants Role” for the 2017 NOA Conference, “Teaching Lucas: A Transgender Student’s Vocal Journey from Soprano to Tenor” at the 2016 NOA/NATS conference, the 2016 National MTNA Conference, and the 2016 National NATS Convention. Other presentations include “Training the Terrible Tongue!” for the 2014 Chicago NATS Chapter, and the 2012 National NATS Conference. Dr. Sims is a past Southern Region Governor of NATS as well as a member of NOA and MTNA. She enjoys giving master classes and her students have been winners in national and regional competitions.
About Liz Jackson Hearns
Liz Jackson Hearns, is a voice teacher and owner of The Voice Lab in Chicago. She holds a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from North Park University and a Bachelor of Arts from The College of Idaho; she also attended the Summer Vocology Institute at the University of Utah. Liz is Co-Founder and Executive Director of ResonaTe, Chicago’s all-trans chorus. She works with with transgender and gender nonconforming singers, helping them develop healthy singing habits during medical transition and beyond. The Singing Teacher’s Guide to Transgender Voices, which is a collaborative project with Brian Kremer, will be available soon.
About Brian Kremer
Brian Kremer is an assistant professor of Music Theatre at Elon University as well as a professional singer, actor and voice instructor. He teaches courses in voice specializing in contemporary singing and performance styles including music theater, rock, pop, country and R&B. Beyond the classroom, Brian is researching and writing The Singing Teacher’s Guide to Transgender Voices, a resource intended to aid in the development of a successful voice pedagogy for the training of transgender singers. BFA, Carnegie Mellon University; MM, Manhattan School of Music. He also maintains Kremer Voice Design, a private voice studio providing individualized vocal instruction.
About Rachel Inselman
Rachel Inselman, soprano is professor of voice at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She has performed numerous opera roles as well as appeared as soloist with symphony orchestras throughout the United States including the Cleveland Orchestra, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Toledo Symphony, and Lincoln Symphony Orchestra. International credits include engagements with the Shanghai Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra, Paris Sinfonetta, and the Tatui Wind Ensemble in Brazil. As a recitalist, Rachel has appeared in Australia, Italy, Costa Rica, Brazil, Turkey and Canada. Inselman was named a winner at the Metropolitan Opera District Auditions for four consecutive years, was a third-place finalist at the Met Regional Auditions in 1995 and 1996.
