The Estill community was proudly represented on the national stage this winter as three Certified Estill Trainers shared their expertise at two major professional gatherings for voice educators.

Estill Trainers at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Winter Workshop

At the 2026 NATS Winter Workshop in New York City, Joan Lader (EMT) and Tom Burke (EMCI) led sessions for an audience of voice teachers, clinicians, and performers from across the country.

Joan Lader presented a Performance Class, bringing her decades of experience in vocal training and rehabilitation for professional voice users to a live, applied setting. Known for her work with leading performers across Broadway, film, opera, and contemporary music, Lader’s session highlighted the intersection of vocal health, expressive freedom, and high-level performance demands.

Tom Burke presented “Twang Farm: Phonemic Prompts for Vocal Versatility and Problem Solving,” offering practical, language-based tools to help singers and speakers expand vocal options and address technical challenges. Drawing on his background as a speech-language pathologist, pianist, and executive communication coach, Burke’s session emphasized functional listening, flexibility, and efficient vocal coordination.

Together, their contributions reflected the Estill commitment to clear structure, practical tools, and evidence-informed voice training in service of artistry and vocal well-being.

Estill Voice Training in Jazz Pedagogy at the Jazz Education Network Conference

Meanwhile in New Orleans, Lara Brooks (EMT) presented at the 2026 Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference — one of the premier international gatherings for jazz educators, performers, and scholars.

Her clinic, “Utilizing the Estill Voice Method for Healthy Jazz Voice Pedagogy,” introduced select Estill Figures as tools for developing a healthy, authentic, and stylistically appropriate jazz voice. Through clear anatomical understanding and targeted Figure isolation, participants explored how singers can cultivate vocal freedom while maintaining vocal health.

The session drew a full room and lively participation, with educators and vocalists engaging in discussion and hands-on exploration. Attendees left with practical strategies for applying Estill Voice principles in jazz performance and teaching — supporting both technical efficiency and individual artistic expression.

Dr. Brooks will continue sharing this work at the Illinois Music Educators Conference later this month and at a national NATS conference this summer, further extending the reach of Estill-informed pedagogy into diverse musical styles and educational contexts.

Join our Professional Voice Community

From performance masterclasses to phonemic training tools and jazz voice pedagogy, these presentations demonstrate how Estill Voice Training continues to inform work in performance, pedagogy, and vocal health across styles and settings.

Inspired by this work? Join our growing global community of voice professionals and deepen your skills through certification in Estill Voice Training. Whether your focus is performance, teaching, or clinical voice work, Estill provides clear, practical tools to support healthy, efficient, and expressive voice use.

👉 Learn more about certification pathways here: https://estillvoice.com/get-certified/

We celebrate Joan Lader, Tom Burke, and Lara Brooks for representing the Estill community with excellence, generosity, and a shared commitment to vocal empowerment for all.