Emerald Lessley

Emerald Lessley, soprano and voice educator, has a strong background in both performance and research, specializing in transgender voice training. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Washington in 2017, with her dissertation titled Teaching Transgender Singers, which has become a cornerstone of her work. Emerald’s research into the transgender singing voice addresses the vocal challenges of gender transition and explores inclusive pedagogical approaches for supporting transgender and non-binary singers.

With over ten years of teaching experience, Dr. Lessley offers expertise in classical, musical theater, contemporary styles, and gender-affirming voice training. She has been an invited speaker at prestigious conferences, including the Northwest Voice Conference, Vocology in Practice in London, and the BAST Webinar Series, and has contributed to the Encyclopedia of Trans Studies. Emerald is passionate about creating affirming spaces for transgender singers and integrating evidence-based practices into vocal pedagogy.

In addition to her teaching and research, she actively collaborates with composers and performs avant-garde vocal works, contributing to new music in both the U.S. and Europe.