UW–Madison’s Colleen Conroy, an assistant professor in the School of Education’s Department of Theatre and Drama, is the author of an article in Voice and Speech Review.
The article, “Coaching the Gendered Voice: An Action Research Study on Pitch, Resonance, and Effective Techniques,” was published online in May 2025. It was also selected as a 2026 Voice and Speech Review Spotlight Article and granted Global Open Access by Routledge for 2026.
In the study, Conroy examines how pitch and resonance modifications affect the perception of gender in the voices of actors performing cross-gender roles. Using one-to-one coaching sessions, the research explores masculinizing and feminizing vocal techniques while also considering vocal health, expression, and naturalness.
According to the article abstract, the findings suggest that a self-devised toolkit of selected exercises was the most effective, natural, and sustainable approach for participants. The study also highlights the value of combining creative voice practice with clinical voice research.
Read the full article.