YOUR WHOLE VOICE IS WELCOME HERE
Trauma-Informed Voice Coaching for Trans and Queer Folx
I believe there is no such thing as good or bad singing, only free or less free.
I believe our collective liberation needs ALL of our voices, especially those who have most often been silenced.
I understand singing as prayer, as magic, as connected to somatic healing, as a way of amplifying the voice of justice not only in loudness but in beauty.
-WHOLE VOICE Guiding Principles
I have been singing on stages for over thirty years,
but I really found my voice singing with others in the streets.
Everything I offer is rooted in our collective healing and liberation.
I’ve taught private + group voice lessons for over 15 years.
As of September 2021, I am no longer accepting private voice clients.
The best way to work with me is through my community coaching offerings, which you can learn about here.
I prioritize private clients who are Trans and/or whose voice work is a part of healing from trauma.
I teach via Zoom (even when it is not a pandemic) plus I offer writing prompts and suggested body/voice explorations for between our sessions. I believe in longterm growth, not quick fixes, and I’ve found that some of the deepest work happens after some trust is built.Thus, I ask for a commitment of 3 sessions within 3 weeks up front, after which we can check in to assess what is needed from there (common ways of moving forward together from there include: working together monthly or weekly in an ongoing way, or deciding on an arc of 3-10 more sessions to focus on something specific).
I also encourage you to connect with the group singing lessons and workshops i offer which are designed for financial accessibility as well as for the specific depth and power and joy that can only happen when healing/learning within community.
Please also read about my Roots and Lineages.
And on a personal note:
I started Testosterone in April of 2020.
If you’d like to learn more about how i am navigating my own voice change, you can do so here:
Testimonials from Past and Current Clients:
“Orion is a thoughtful and knowledgeable teacher with a wide breadth of tools and exercises for playful and gentle vocal exploration. I felt empowered to co-pilot the lesson and speak to my own experience regarding my needs, desires, boundaries ... finding my “voice” in this container has been a wonderful experience as a trans person, trauma survivor and artist. My voice in the world feels more twinged with personal pleasure and is no longer a trigger of shame or fear since working with Orion in this dynamic and care-full way.”
“In five years of working with Orion, they’ve supported me in also bringing my entire self to my music practice. Instead of aiming for false ideas of perfection, and feeling demoralized when you fall short, Orion challenges you to eschew judgement, seek truth, joy and embodied presence in everything you do, to articulate goals and stay accountable to them through the inevitable setbacks, and to cultivate an attitude of grace and gentle consistency.”
“Orion’s unique philosophy of teaching has felt especially vital this past year, when questions about the role and importance of creativity and music in our collective struggle against oppression seems more essential than ever. Orion has encouraged me to courageously expand my own musical interests, to recognize the ways that capitalist, patriarchal, white supremacist modes of thinking poison our lives (including our creative work), and how unlearning and fighting oppression can open us to new, richer, more authentic experiences and a braver, more joyful practice of music”
“Orion’s empowering and caring guidance helped me dissipate many insecurities I had about singing. And the act of singing the songs brought me a lot of joy and healing - not just in class - but forevermore! I’ve been able to draw upon them in moments of difficulty and celebration - they are gifts that keep on giving.”