News

MA Voice Pedagogy alumna Olivia Sparkhall’s book shortlisted for Music & Drama Education Awards 2024

Thursday 1st February 2024

We are thrilled to announce that MA Voice Pedagogy alumna Olivia Sparkhall has had her book A Young Person’s Guide to Vocal Health shortlisted as a finalist for the Music & Drama Education Awards 2024 in the category of ‘Outstanding Music Education Print Resource’!

Olivia’s book, which details everything young people need to know in terms of looking after their voices, is borne out of the research she undertook as part of her MA Voice Pedagogy degree.

You can find about more about her book here.

The awards ceremony will be held as a black-tie event at the 5-star London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square on Thursday 22nd February 2024, during which the winners and highly commended nominees will be unveiled. More details about the event, including a full shortlist of nominees in all categories, can be found here.

Our warmest congratulations, Olivia!

Olivia Sparkhall

Olivia Sparkhall is a composer, choral conductor, voice coach and music teacher based on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire, UK. She is a Voice Study Centre (University of Wales...


Recent Posts

After The Session

After The Session: Doubles and Stacks, Reverbs and Effects: Teaching Vocal Production Skills

Voice Study Centre
Wednesday 23rd September 2026

For many vocalists and voice teachers, the world of digital audio workstations (DAWs), hardware, and studio processing can feel like forbidden territory. Yesterday, Voice Study Centre hosted a hands-on, practical short course led by Kelly Hoppenjans (voice teacher, and PhD candidate in musicology at the University of Michigan), designed specifically to break down these technological barriers and empower singers to approach vocal production creatively, playfully, and confidently - so what did we learn?

Read More...
After The Session

After The Session: Games & Gadgets: Unlocking Vocal Skills Through Movement and Play🎤✨

Voice Study Centre
Tuesday 15th September 2026

Vocal technique isn't just about standing still in front of a piano and doing scales - it's an interactive, whole-body experience! In a fantastic workshop hosted by the Voice Study Centre today, Naomi Lewandoski (Northside Voice Studio, Australia) led us through an engaging session on how physical movement, somatic awareness, and everyday "gadgets" can transform vocal training.

Read More...
Student Interviews

Could a Harmonica Have a Place in the Voice Studio?

Voice Study Centre
Tuesday 8th September 2026

What does a harmonica have to do with the human voice? For harmonica performer and music educator Shima Melvin, this question became the starting point for her postgraduate research with the Voice Study Centre. While developing her approach to teaching harmonica, Shima found herself struggling to explain exactly what was happening inside the instrument when she played. The mechanics of the harmonica were, in a sense, invisible.

Read More...