Lara Brooks

Style: Pop; Opera; Jazz; Folk; Rock; Classical; Musical Theatre

Title: Clinical Assistant Professor of Voice

Bio:

Dr. Lara Brooks will be joining the faculty starting Fall 2024 at The University of Illinois Urbana Champaign as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Voice. Her studio focus spans classical, musical theatre, jazz, and contemporary commercial music (CCM) genres, where she employs the Estill Voice Method to teach empowered, healthy crossover singing. In addition to her teaching role, Dr. Brooks is an in demand music and stage director within the regional theatre and opera scene. As a contemporary voice specialist, Dr. Brooks frequently presents workshops regarding flexible voice technique and cross-training of vocalists. Sessions ranging from “Crossing Genres: A Classical Singer’s Guide to Jazz”, “I’m Not Singing Opera Today”, to “Healthy Belting Techniques for Classical Singers”, "Finding Your Belt Through Colors", and “Utilizing EVT for Healthy Jazz Voice Pedagogy” have been presented at The International Congress of Voice Teachers in Stockholm, Sweden, & Vienna, Austria The National Association of Teachers of Singing, The National Opera Association, Kansas Music Education Association, Jazz Education Network, and to universities and high schools throughout the nation.

She has had the privilege of teaching a diverse range of students, that go on to be established professionals working within their chosen industry. Her students regularly place within the NATS Auditions for Classical, Musical Theatre, and the new Commercial Music Categories. With her guidance and mentoring, students affiliated with the studio have gone on to be accepted into some of the top Music and Theatre programs in the country for their bachelor, masters or doctorates. Programs include New York University, Jacobs School of Music Indiana University, University of California Los Angles, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University, Miami Frost School of Music, The Ohio State University, & Ball State University. Driven by a profound passion for functional voice and pedagogy, Dr. Brooks actively fosters an environment where vocalists are encouraged to explore the full spectrum of musical genres, empowering them to emerge as vocal athletes. Her research pursuits revolve around the continual enhancement of school of music curricula, aiming to align educational programs with the dynamic industry demands faced by vocalists and the ever-evolving landscape of music. She previously taught at The Ohio State University as a Lecturer of Voice and as the Director of Opera, Washburn University where she served as The Voice Area Chair, Director of Opera Studies, and the Musical Theatre Liaison, The University of Illinois Springfield as an Adjunct Professor of Voice, Friends University as an affiliate voice faculty in Musical Theatre Voice & Jazz, Millikin University as an Adjunct Instructor of Voice, and serves as the Vocal Coach / Music Director at the Michigan Opera Theatre (currently the Detroit Opera House) for their Operetta Workshops.

Dr. Brooks hold her Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies and her Masters in Classical Vocal Performance and Literature from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a Bachelor's of Music Education: Choral Emphasis & a Bachelor's of Music, Vocal Performance, cum laude from Central Michigan University.

Voice Type: Soprano

Music Styles Taught: Pop; Opera; Jazz; Folk; Rock; Classical; Musical Theatre

Availability: I have a wait-list for private lessons; I am available as a clinician or presenter; I accept students through a college or university program

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