Stefan Holmström MFA, EMCI

Ema Katrovas. Credit: Antoine Boureau, from the solo show "Diva Lazarus" at the Théâtre de la Renaissance in Lyon. With a natural ability to sing, Czech-American contemporary classical performer and podcaster Ema Katrovas was thrilled with the positive feedback she received about her voice from a young age. This early praise inspired Ema to pursue degrees in performance and propelled her into a career as a classical soloist and operatic soprano, performing at Czech opera the

Gizmo Varillas With over 100 million streams on Spotify, a first album that's just gone vinyl , viral success on TikTok and Instagram and releases featured on Netflix shows I Used to Be Famous  and Special , you might think that all of the success enjoyed by singer-songwriter Gizmo Varillas represents the end of a journey. Think again. "I'm still on the way toward being able to express myself as much as possible," Gizmo said. "That's why I decided to learn more about my voic

Flute players can benefit from vocal awareness and targeted voice training.

Participants celebrate after completing the Vocal Craft for Choral Singers workshop on Sunday 8th October 2023.. On 7th and 8th October,...

Shula Rich Shula Rich is the opposite of the 'older person' stereotype. She is a leasehold expert who, at 76, actively writes, presents courses nationwide and offers consultancy and advice services. She is also a keen bodybuilder who trains regularly at a local gym. However, Shula noticed that - despite her active lifestyle and excellent physical fitness - her voice felt weak and uncontrollable and was sounding overly emotional and crackly. Shula said: "My voice had lost its

Every two years, the Estill Voice Training community gathers together at an international voice symposium to celebrate and explore the...

When I first discovered Estill Voice Training in 2003 I was a member of the cast of Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre in...

Many singers and speakers experience tongue tension, but why is it so common? Take a look at the MRI image below of the vocal tract in cross section (image 1.). You can clearly see that the tongue takes a lot of space in the oral cavity. It's big! There is far more to it than just the tip, blade or back which you can relatively easily see. Image 1. And because it is connected to so many other structures like the jaw, the soft palate, the head and the tongue bone you can begi

One of the trickiest parts of mastering Swedish is the pronunciation. Get it right and not only are you understood, you feel like you're...

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels Choosing an audition song can be a challenge, but it doesn't have to feel overwhelming. At the end of the day, it is an exciting opportunity to showcase who you are and what you can do. Although specific advice might vary depending on what you're auditioning for, here are a few tips to help you pick the right song - one that you can really enjoy performing and gets you the job. 1. Make sure the song is appropriate Sometimes you will get a