Menopause and the Voice Perimenopause, menopause, and ageing: physiological changes and vocal strategies for singers. At every age, the vocal instrument is dependent upon how the body progressively and constantly changes. Hormonal changes throughout the lifespan impact singing both directly and indirectly.
This webinar will highlight perimenopause, menopause and how ageing impacts the human vocal instrument.
- What are the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause?
- How do these changes impact the voice?
- What are current recommendations for hormone therapy?
- Are there exercises, resonance or support strategies that can help?
- When and who should one see for vocal help?
Join Professor Karen Brunssen, author of ‘The Evolving Singing Voice: Changes Across the Lifespan’, as she guides us through how the human vocal instrument transforms for singers navigating stages of menopause.
If you are unable to attend live, this event will be available for ticketholders for 30 days after the event.
Presenter: Karen Brunssen, Mezzo Soprano, is Professor of Voice and Co-Chair of the Music Performance Department at Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University. She is Past-President of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and a member of the American Academy of Teachers of Singing. Her book, The Evolving Singing Voice: Changes Across the Lifespan, published by Plural Publishing, examines how the human vocal instrument transforms from infancy through old age. Karen has done presentations on all ages of the voice, highlighting particular ages as requested, at conferences including NATS National Conferences in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, ACDA 2015, 2016, Chorus America, PEVoC13, ICVT 2017, Stockholm 2022, Toronto 2025, and International Federation for Choral Music in China and Portugal, Choral Canada, and teaching residencies in Newfoundland, Zurich, Switzerland, China, Cambridge University, throughout the US and virtually in Japan, the Philippines, and more. She is in demand as an adjudicator, presenter, and master teacher. Karen was honoured to receive the 2024 NATS IMPACT Award at the NATS National Conference, the Luther College Weston Noble Award in 2013, and the Excellence in Teaching Award from Northwestern University in 2005. Her singing career includes concert, oratorio, opera, and recital across the United States, Canada, Germany, France, and Spain. Karen’s students have performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Los Angeles Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Covent Garden, and Theatre an der Wien as well as teaching at universities and colleges around the world.
