How we sing: York conference brings together world experts on the human voice
Posted on 8 May 2006
The Physiology and Acoustics of Singing conference is hosted by the University of York from 10 to 13 May in St William's College and the King's Manor.The conference includes presentations on understanding adolescent singers' voices, physiological insights on how singers use their posture and muscles, what happens to the voice as it matures, how the larynx is structured and how this affects voice production, and why theatre singers and operatic singers sound so different.
A full understanding of the professional speaking and singing voice requires input from many areas spanning the arts and sciences
Professor David Howard
"A full understanding of the professional speaking and singing voice requires input from many areas spanning the arts and sciences," said Professor David Howard, general chair of the conference and a researcher in York's Department of Electronics.
"It is wonderful that the experts gathered next week will deliberate the human voice in a setting right next to the Minster, where professional musicians sing every day.
"The University is particularly pleased to be welcoming one of its Honorary Graduates, Professor Johan Sundberg from Sweden, as a keynote speaker to talk about the electronic synthesis of different singing styles. Successful synthesis is an acid test of whether or not the acoustics of singing is understood."
York singers will contribute to the conference in a number of ways:
- Delegates will hear both the girls and boys of York Minster at Evensong each day of the conference.
- The Ebor Singers, specialising in repertoire from the 17th century directed by Paul Gameson, will sing with one of the final year boy choristers, Joey Howard, at a special evening event 'behind the musical scenes in York Minster', hosted by the Precentor, Jeremy Fletcher and the Master of the Music, Philip Moore.
- The Beningbrough Singers, a small vocal ensemble directed by David Howard, will sing at the conference dinner at the King's Manor on Friday 12 May.
- And singer Dr John Potter, one of Britain's leading classical recording artists and lecturer in the Department of Music at York, will speak on the art of listening while singing.
The conference will also include vocal warm-ups for delegates twice a day.
Notes to editors:
- Reporters and photographers are welcome at the conference. Please contact Jude Brereton or David Howard in advance, email jb64@ohm.york.ac.uk, or dh@ohm.york.ac.uk.
- Over 100 delegates will arrive for the conference on Wednesday 10 May. They include academics, singing teachers, singers and doctors from all over the world.
- The Department of Electronics at York pioneered music technology courses with the Department of Music. York Music Technology graduates work in the television, music and recording industry all over the world.
- Professor David Howard is working as a Senior Media Fellow for three years, explaining science, engineering and technology to schools, the media and the general public. His research includes the analysis and synthesis of singing, music and speech, acoustics, psychoacoustics and the use of computers for voice training.
- The conference has been organised by Jude Brereton, Research Assistant in Music Technology in the Department of Electronics at the University of York. The conference programme can be found at www-users.york.ac.uk/~dmh8/WEB-PAS3-06/index.htm