In Conversation With… Dr Tracy Bourne
Friday 24th July 2026, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM (London Time)
As part of the Musical Theatre Research Alliance and Voice Study Centre, Strand 1: Vocal Health and Sustainability in Musical Theatre launches with a unique interview series: “In Conversation With.”
Three leading practitioners from across the musical theatre industry will each take part in an individual online interview, responding to the same core questions around vocal health, sustainability, and current professional practice. By exploring shared themes through multiple professional lenses, the series aims to capture a rich range of perspectives, experiences, and approaches, generating valuable qualitative data that can help shape future research, training, and industry practice.
Designed to be inclusive and collaborative, the sessions will also be open to observers, with opportunities for audience-submitted questions in a final discussion segment. Each conversation will run approximately 30–45 minutes, with questions shared in advance while allowing space for wider dialogue and emerging topics.
Free and open to all, this final live online discussion in Strand 1 of our interview series features Victorian College of the Arts Associate Lecturer Dr Tracy Bourne.
Tracy teaches singing technique in the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre) program at the University of Melbourne, with a strong focus on vocal sustainability for emerging and professional performers. Drawing on her PhD research in voice science and pedagogy, Tracy specialises in music theatre vocal techniques including belt, legit and mix across male and female singers.
This conversation will explore vocal health and sustainability in musical theatre through the lens of Tracy's research, teaching, and extensive experience working with emerging and professional performers.
Essential viewing for performers, teachers, students, and anyone interested in the future of healthy and sustainable musical theatre practice.
This series is part of the Musical Theatre Research Alliance (MTRA).
Events are free to attend publicly. MTRA members also have opportunities to participate in aspects of the research process and future research conversations.
Dr Tracy Bourne
Tracy Bourne is a singer, teacher, researcher, and Associate Lecturer in Music Theatre (voice) at the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne, Australia. She was previously Lecturer in Singing at the University of Ballarat (now Federation University) and has maintained a private teaching studio for over 30 years. In 2016, she completed a PhD by publication through Sydney University on the Perceptual, Physiological and Acoustic Characteristics of Male and Female Music Theatre Singers.
Sorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
Tuesday 28th July 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
“Too Much, Too Little, Just Right!” - The Balancing Act Model
Robert Edwin
The Balancing Act Model encourages singers to explore the extremes of singing, and from those extremes, establish their most efficient (balanced) voice and performance techniques. Join the renowned singer/actor and author Robert Edwin as he covers many aspects of the singing process including breathing, phonation, resonation, articulation, and attitude. If you’re involved in music theater or opera, you’ll find the Model to be especially helpful in developing character voices for roles such as Nathan and Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. If you’re just looking to find out what your body and voice can do, The Balancing Act Model can provide many answers!
Thursday 30th July 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS | Person-Centred Singing Teaching
William Leigh Knight
Only around 3% of the population fall into the category of amusia while over 17% consider themselves ‘tone-deaf’; and this does not account for non-singers, a wider group sometimes described as ‘tuneless’. So, who are ‘the voiceless’? Join William Leigh-Knight as he unpicks this question and considers the purpose of training a voice, when it is considered such a natural human attribute, and he expands on the principles that drive his own practice, which may be summarised as ‘person-centeredness’
Monday 3rd August 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Tuesday 4th August 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Wednesday 5th August 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Thursday 6th August 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Friday 7th August 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
(London Time)
Level Two Certificate in Accents and Phonetics with Louisa Morgan
Louisa Morgan
Build on your foundational knowledge of accents and phonetics in this week‑long lunchtime course designed specifically for voice teachers. Whether you have completed our Level 1 Certificate or already possess a basic working knowledge of phonetics and accent work, this Level 2 course will help you deepen your skills, sharpen your analytical ear, and expand your practical toolkit for teaching.