Research interests: Gender Studies, IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility), Social Justice Advocacy, Women’s Empowerment, Contemporary Classical, Indie & Folk Music, Psychoacoustics, Neuroscience & Singing, Musical & Academic Collaboration.
Accepting mentees: Yes (3)
Biography
Kristen Murdaugh (she/they), mezzo-soprano, is a voice pedagogue, voice scientist, singerand activist. An evidence-based, identity-affirming, student-centered voice teacher, shbelieves in helping her students find their most authentic voices through the intersection ocutting-edge voice science and tried-and-true voice pedagogy. Kristen’s notable publicationand presentations include: Correlating Perceptual and Spectral Aspects of Chiaroscuro iSinging; In-Person or Virtual: Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on the Teaching Habits oVoice Pedagogues; That’s What He Said: Gender Bias in the Fundamental Models of SounPerception; and in 2017, she presented a TEDx Talk titled, Talking about Talking: The Sciencof the Voice. Kristen has a particular research interest in the intersectionality of gendestudies and voice science, and through her work, she hopes to foster a more equitabletransparent, and diverse world of singing. With a passion for contemporary repertoire, henotable solo performances include the role of Estelle in Musto’s opera Later the SamEvening, and the contralto solos in the world premiere of LaRosa’s oratorio Joshua. Kristen’affinity for musical collaboration has led her to performances in venues such as CarnegiHall, Washington National Cathedral, and Duke Chapel, and she is particularly honored to ba founding member of the service-oriented vocal ensemble ServireKristen is a doctoral researcher and PhD candidate in voice science at the University for Musiand Performing Arts Vienna, Austria. She holds a Master of Music degree in vocal pedagogfrom the New England Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree in vocaperformance and German studies from Furman University. She is an active member of thNational Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), Pan American Vocology Associatio(PAVA), and Voice Foundation, and recently concluded a 5-year tenure on the NATS BostoBoard as Vice President and Director of Communications where she and her colleagueworked towards inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in the field of singing. Througher work with Servire, community organizations, and her own research and teaching, shaims to facilitate constructive dialogue and work alongside her community to foster sociachange. Outside of music, Kristen enjoys spending time with those she loves, listening tcopious amounts of podcasts, drinking coffee, and playing with her cat Rascal.
Qualifications
PhD Candidate in Voice Science Estimated Completion June 2025 - University for Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Austria (mdw) Antonio Salieri Department of Vocal Studies and Research in Music Education. Dissertation: Chiaroscuro in Singing: Illuminating Obscurity through Perceptual and Physiological Correlations
Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy 2019 New England Conservatory of Music Vocal Pedagogy Department. Thesis: That’s What He Said: Gender Bias in the Fundamental Models of Sound Perception
Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and German Studies 2017 Furman University Department of Music | Modern Languages & Literatures Department
Publications
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS:
Kristen Murdaugh, Josipa Bainac Hausknecht, Christian Herbst (2020). In-Person or Virtual? -- Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on the Teaching Habits of Voice Pedagogues. Journal of Voice.
Josipa Bainac Hausknecht, Kristen Murdaugh, Elke Nagl, Christian Herbst (2021). Global Inventory and Similarity Rating of Singing Voice Assessment Terms used at English Speaking Academic Institutions. Journal of Voice.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:
Kristen Murdaugh, Malte Kob (2024). Chiaroscuro in Singing: Illuminating Obscurity through a Perceptual Lens. Pan-American Vocology Association Hybrid Symposium, Pan-American Vocology Association, Houston, TX.
Kristen Murdaugh, Olivier Perrotin, Bruno Gingras, Christian Herbst (2022). Correlating Perceptual and Spectral Aspects of Chiaroscuro in Singing -- A Pilot Study. 7th International Physiology and Acoustics of Singing Conference (PAS7+), Online, Brazil.
Josipa Bainac Hausknecht, Kristen Murdaugh, Elke Nagl, Christian Herbst (2022). Global Inventory and Similarity Rating of Singing Voice Assessment Terms Used at English Speaking Academic Institutions. 51st Annual Symposium: Care of the Professional Voice, The Voice Foundation, Philadelphia, PA.
Kristen Murdaugh, Josipa Bainac Hausknecht, Christian Herbst (2021). In-Person or Virtual? – Assessing the Impact of Covid-19 on the Teaching Habits of Voice Pedagogues. 50th Anniversary Symposium: Care of the Professional Voice, The Voice Foundation, Philadelphia, PA.
Kristen Murdaugh, Olivier Perrotin, Bruno Gingras, Christian Herbst (2021). Correlating Perceptual and Spectral Aspects of Chiaroscuro in Singing -- A Pilot Study. Virtually PAVA Pan-American Vocology Association Symposium, Pan-American Vocology Association, Salt Lake City, UT.
Kristen Murdaugh, Josipa Bainac Hausknecht, Christian Herbst (2021). In-Person or Virtual? – Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on the Teaching Habits of Voice Pedagogues. Virtually = PAVA - Pan-American Vocology Association Symposium, Pan-American Vocology Association, Salt Lake City, UT.
LECTURES & PRESENTATIONS:
Kristen Murdaugh (2024). Voice Acoustics: Practical Application in the Studio. Furman Voice Pedagogy Guest Lecture, Furman University, Greenville, SC.
Kristen Murdaugh (2024). That’s What He Said: Gender Inequity in Sound Perception Research. Voice Study Centre Short Course, Voice Study Centre, Suffolk, United Kingdom.
Kristen Murdaugh, Malte Kob (2024). Chiaroscuro in Singing: Illuminating Obscurity through Perceptual and Physiological Correlations. Doctoral Candidate Seminar, University for Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Kristen Murdaugh (2023). Bringing Science to Life: Application of Voice Science in the Voice Studio. Furman Voice Pedagogy Guest Lecture, Furman University, Greenville, SC.
Kristen Murdaugh (2022). Exploring Resonance Pedagogically and Scientifically. Furman Voice Pedagogy Guest Lecture, Furman University, Greenville, SC.
Kristen Murdaugh, Olivier Perrotin, Bruno Gingras, Christian Herbst (2021). Correlating Perceptual and Spectral Aspects of Chiaroscuro in Singing. KTH Popup Voice Science Break #9, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
Kristen Murdaugh (2021). Dissecting Resonance through a Scientific Lens. Furman Voice Pedagogy Guest Lecture, Furman University, Greenville, SC.
Kristen Murdaugh (2021). Chiaroscuro: An Examination of its Meaning and Utilization – Past and Present. Stimmforschung PhD Lecture Series, University for Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Kristen Murdaugh (2020). Voice Pedagogues Face a Global Pandemic. Staff Lecture Series, University Mozarteum Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Kristen Murdaugh (2020). Do Vowels Exist? Servire Chorus Guest Lecture Series, Servire Chorus LLC, USA.
Kristen Murdaugh (2020). Goldilocks Phonation. South Shore Children’s Chorus Voice Technique and Fundamentals Guest Lecture Series, South Shore Children’s Chorus, Quincy, MA.
Kristen Murdaugh (2019). That’s What He Said: Gender Bias in the Fundamental Models of Sound Perception. NEC Vocal Pedagogy Masters Capstone Presentations, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, MA.
Kristen Murdaugh (2019). Resonance in Singing. Furman Voice Pedagogy Guest Lecture, Furman University, Greenville, SC.
Kristen Murdaugh, Kayla Gautereaux (2019). Breaking Down Voice Science & Exploring Absolute Spectral Tone Color. South Shore Children’s Chorus Voice Technique and Fundamentals Guest Lecture Series, South Shore Children’s Chorus, Stonehill College, Easton, MA.
Kristen Murdaugh (2018). Redefining the Female Secondo Passaggio. NEC Vocal Pedagogy Lecture Series, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, MA.
Kristen Murdaugh (2017). Talking about Talking: The Science of the Voice. TEDx Greenville, TEDx Talks, Greenville, SC.