Dr Jenevora Williams is passionate about teaching and a leading exponent in the field of vocal health, rehabilitation and singing teaching. She was the first singing teacher to be awarded a PhD in voice science in the UK, and won the 2010 BVA Van Lawrence Prize for her outstanding contribution to voice research.
Teacher Training for Singing Teachers
As voice science is a relatively young discipline, she has engaged in pioneering work at a grass roots level through the delivery of innovative lectures on Vocal Health, Performance Anxiety, Vocal Pedagogy, Teaching Young Singers, Singing in the Brain, Voice Acoustics, and Teaching Studio Communication Style for bodies such as the British Voice Association, British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM), the Association of Teachers of Singing in the UK; NATS and the Voice Foundation in the US; PEVoC and EVTA in the EU. Jenevora has delivered her courses in Belgium, Finland, Portugal, Austria, Slovenia, Perth (Australia), Chicago IL, and has bookings for an Australian tour next year. She also offers more general training for teachers in regional and national music organisations like Sound Connections, The Voices Foundation, Sing Up and Sistema Scotland. Her work now is mainly through Vocal Health Education: along with Stephen King of the Voice Care Centre, she has set up Vocal Health First Aid training that leads on the Vocal Health Practitioner and Vocal Rehabilitation Specialist, all of these are fully accredited qualifications.
Singing Lessons
Jenevora has a busy private practice for professional singers at her home in Guildford, Surrey, and in her London studio in Soho. She is experienced in preparing singers for solo professional performance and recordings (Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Glyndebourne, Les Arts Florissants, Aix-en-Provence, Garsington, Decca, EMI, Hyperion). Many of her students are members of professional opera choruses and groups such as the Monteverdi Choir and The Sixteen. Others perform as soloists both nationally and internationally. She has given masterclasses in Portugal, Belgium, Germany, United States and Australia. Much of her teaching work is in voice rehabilitation; she offers guidance for singers who may have challenges with vocal health or technique. Jenevora works alongside the UK’s leading voice doctor Declan Costello in more than one voice clinic. Jenevora is an Associate Lecturer in voice rehabilitation for professional singers on the MSc in Performing Arts Medicine at UCL. She is one of the recommended vocal rehabilitation specialists for BAPAM, and she also takes referrals from voice clinics around the country.
Teaching Younger Singers
As one would expect for someone who has always been interested in advanced training for young singers; Jenevora’s PhD research looked into the vocal health of intensively trained child singers. She has taught elite musicians at the Yehudi Menuhin School; and was Singing Consultant and teacher-in-residence for the National Youth Choir for twenty years. She has taught singing at The Royal College of Music Junior Department, as well as young adults at the Guildford School of Acting and many universities. She has been the singing teacher for the choristers at St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, as well as a consultant teacher for many other British cathedral foundations.
Research and Writing
The book and DVD “Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults” has sold several thousand copies worldwide. Jenevora’s publication list includes several research papers published in the Journal of Voice, Logopedics and Phoniatrics and Vocology as well as chapter contributions to The Oxford Handbook of Singing and The Oxford Handbook of Music Education. She has worked as a Research Associate at York University, working with Dr Gillyanne Kayes and Professor David Howard.
Performing
For many years, Jenevora was in demand as an international concert and opera soloist. Her performing career included many major roles in operas: several with WNO, including Dorabella. She had recital tours throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and North America; and performed and recorded as a soloist with Sir Charles Mackerras and Carlo Rizzi. She has relevant experience of Western Classical and Musical Theatre music of all styles and periods. As well as the Classical canon of operatic works, oratorio and recital repertoire, Jenevora performed many contemporary song cycles, including premieres of ones that were written for her. She also performed and recorded medieval music with The New London Consort. Jenevora’s rigorous academic study in tandem with her own practical professional experience has equipped her for teaching and teacher training to a level beyond that of any other singing teacher in the UK.
Find more about Jenevora Williams at JenevoraWilliams.com