Midwest Voice 2026
Join us for a celebration of all things Voice at the 3rd Midwest Voice Symposium.
Hosted by the University of Iowa, this year's event will take place on November 7, 2026, in the beautiful and dynamic Voxman Music Building, with both in-person and online attendance options available.
2026 Keynote presentations will be from Mary Cohen, Melissa Cross, Rita Patel, and Ron Scherer.
This daylong conference is dedicated to exploring the science, health, and art of voice production. While the symposium highlights the vibrant Midwest voice community, participants from across the country and beyond are warmly welcomed.
All registrations (in-person and zoom) will include a full day of presentations from leading experts in voice science, pedagogy, and medicine. In-person registration will include refreshments during coffee breaks, and a catered evening meal with entertainment.
Midwest Voice is co-hosted by Dr. David Meyer and Dr. Eric Hunter, uniting the pioneering Iowa School of Music and the historic Iowa Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Faculty from Bioengineering, Education, Otolaryngology, and related fields will also contribute to this unique interdisciplinary event.
Registration
All registrations (in-person and zoom) include a full day of presentations from leading experts in voice science, pedagogy, and medicine.
In-person registration includes refreshments during coffee breaks, and a catered evening meal.
To register, click her: https://uiowaforms.wufoo.com/forms/2026-midwest-voice-symposium-registration/
- Professional, in person — $130
- Professional, virtual — $100
- Student, in person — $40
- Student, virtual — $30
Note: virtual will be a live stream during the event and does not include in-person attendance, the ability to ask questions, or access to the stream after conclusion of the event.
Midwest Voice Agenda
Saturday, November 7th - Symposium Snapshot
- 7:30 am: Doors Open for Registration & Coffee
- 8am: Welcome and Introduction
- Morning Sessions 1 and 2 (with a coffee break)
- Noon-1:30: Lunch on your own, Networking
- Afternoon Sessions 3 and 4
- 6:00 pm: Evening Social, Musical Entertainment, Dinner provided
SESSION 1: Voice Health, Diagnosis & Clinical Intervention
| Speaker | Presentation |
|---|---|
| Rita Patel (Keynote) | Advances in Dx & Tx for Laryngeal Dysphonia |
| Adrian Castillo-Allendes | From Bedside Challenges to Clinical Solutions: Contact Microphones for Voice Assessment |
| Brittany L. Perrine | Individual Variables Associated With a Readiness to Change How One Cares for Their Voice in College Students |
| Maryann N. Krasko | Recognition and Management of Voice Changes in Older Adults by Primary Care Physicians: Preliminary Survey Findings |
| Vlasta Lungova | Modeling Human Vocal Fold Health and Disease: hiPSC-Derived 3d Mucosal and Organoid Systems |
| Diana M. Orbelo | Listening to Inflammation: Early Steps in Voice Research for Rheumatologic and Autoimmune Disease |
| Keiko Ishikawa | Cognitive Load and Speech Technique Implementation Accuracy during Speech Modification: A Dual-Task Approach |
SESSION 2: Voice, Community, Culture & Well-Being
| Speaker | Presentation |
|---|---|
| Abbey L. Dvorak | Therapeutic Group Singing For Parkinson’s Disease: Interdisciplinary Persectives, Emerging Evidence, And Future Directions |
| Angelia Williams | Professional Soul Singers, Well-Being and Optimal Performance: A Qualitative Descriptive Study |
| Carly Wingfield | Virtual Reality for Performance Preparation: Increasing Familiarity and Easing Anxiety |
| Jennifer Kreider | The Life & Solo Vocal Works of Carlotta Ferrari da Lodi |
| Kourtney R. Austin | Musculoskeletal Health in the Voice Studio |
| Mary Cohen (Keynote) | Building Community with Singing: Oakdale Community Choir — followed by a screening of the new documentary The Inside Singers |
SESSION 3: Singing Voice: Pedagogy, Performance & Contemporary Styles
| Speaker | Presentation |
|---|---|
| Ronald Scherer (Keynote) | Laryngeal Modeling at Iowa |
| Nicholas May | The Effect of Vocal Fold Geometric Variables on Aerodynamics, Acoustics, and Kinematics in Physical Self-Oscillating Vocal Fold Models (SO-VFMs) |
| Elisabeth M. Renkert | Do-It-Yourself Voice Dosimeter for Detecting Acoustic Markers of Neurogenic Voice Disorders: A Feasibility Study |
| Peter Pabon | (1) Changes in Source-Filter Interaction Accompanying a Change in Register Mechanism AND (2) Loudness Voice Maps |
| Mark Berardi | Concurrent fMRI, Extralaryngeal EMG, and Acoustic Measurement of Speech Production under Psychosocial Stress |
| Payton Westphal | Building An Open 3D Vocal Tract MRI Database of Sustained Phonation: Pairing Expert Segmentation with Deep Learning Drafts |
| Swati Ramtilak | Towards Accessible Speech MRI Methods |
| David Meyer | Emma Seiler: a new and old look at formant tuning |
SESSION 4: Voice Science, Measurement & Modeling
| Speaker | Presentation |
|---|---|
| Melissa Cross (Keynote) | Science and Art of Chaotic Vocal Styles |
| Tiago L. B. Cruz | (1) Acoustic Voice Hyperfunction Index (AVHI): Development and Preliminary Reference Modeling for Brazilian Portuguese Speakers AND (2) Vibrato Rate and Half-Extent in Western Classical Singers: Corpus-Based Reference Distributions Across Voice Type, Relative Pitch, Professional Taxonomy, and Recording Year |
| Lori Sen | Beyond Language: Articulatory Settings in Multilingual and Cross-Genre Singing |
| Sophia Dove | Preliminary Scoping Review of SOVTE Cuing and Instruction |
| Elizabeth (Lily) Thompson | Singing Savvy: Somatics for the 21st Century Singer |
| Geneil M. Perkins | Zwischenfach: An Exploration of the In-Between |
| Nicolás Hormazábal | More Than Screaming: Practical Uses for Vocal Distortions |
Friday Pre-Symposium
Friday, November 6, 2026 | University of Iowa
Join us a day early for an afternoon and evening of special pre-symposium activities highlighting the Midwest's interdisciplinary voice community. From voice science and clinical care to music, performance, and pedagogy, Friday offers opportunities to connect with colleagues, explore our wonderful facilities at the University of Iowa, and engage in meaningful conversations.
All activities are optional, and attendees are welcome to participate in any or all of the day's events. Note that you must be a registered participant of the symposium to the Big Ideas in Voice activity.
Friday Schedule
| Time | Activity | Location |
| 12:00–1:00 PM | CSD Professional Seminar | Health Sciences Academic Building (HSAB) |
| 1:00–2:00 PM | Informal Lunch and Walk to Voxman | Iowa City |
| 2:00–5:00 PM | An Afternoon with Simon Estes | Voxman Music Building |
| 5:00–6:00 PM | Dinner Break (on your own) | Downtown Iowa City |
| 6:00–6:25 PM | Tours of Voice Research Laboratories and Clinical Facilities | HSAB |
| 6:30–8:00 PM | Big Ideas in Voice: Lightning Talks and Open Discussion | HSAB |
An Afternoon with Simon Estes
2:00–5:00 PM | Voxman Music Building
Join renowned operatic bass-baritone and University of Iowa alumnus Simon Estes for a special afternoon celebrating his remarkable career and contributions to vocal performance. The program will include a documentary screening exploring his life and career, followed by an opportunity to observe him working with several singers.
Research and Clinical Facilities Tours
6:00–6:25 PM | Health Sciences Academic Building
Explore the University of Iowa's new voice research laboratories and clinical facilities. Learn about ongoing research and clinical activities and see how voice science, engineering, clinical care, and education intersect.
Big Ideas in Voice: Lightning Talks and Open Discussion
6:30–8:00 PM | Health Sciences Academic Building
Led by Dr. Eric J. Hunter
Continuing a Midwest Voice tradition, this smaller, informal gathering brings together researchers, clinicians, educators, performers, and students to explore emerging ideas and big questions in voice.
The evening will feature brief, seven-minute presentations on topics spanning voice science, health, pedagogy, and performance, followed by an extended interdisciplinary discussion. The emphasis is on sharing perspectives, asking questions, and sparking new collaborations rather than formal presentations alone.
Interested in Joining Us Friday?
Please complete our brief Friday Pre-Symposium Interest Form to let us know which activities you might attend. This helps us plan for space and participation.
We look forward to welcoming you for an afternoon and evening of music, science, conversation, and connection before Saturday's main symposium!
Accommodations
For those looking for accommodations, the University of Iowa has a special rate with the several local hotels which are very close to the venue. Tell them that you are coming for meetings at the University of Iowa.
Element Hotel: https://ap-purchasing.fo.uiowa.edu/element-hotels
Graduate Iowa City: https://ap-purchasing.fo.uiowa.edu/graduate-iowa-city
Hilton Garden Inn: https://ap-purchasing.fo.uiowa.edu/hilton-garden-inn
Hotel Vetro: https://ap-purchasing.fo.uiowa.edu/hotel-vetro
Hampton Inn Iowa City: https://ap-purchasing.fo.uiowa.edu/hampton-inn-iowa-city
Heartland Inn: https://ap-purchasing.fo.uiowa.edu/heartland-inn (free shuttle)
Comfort Suites Coralville: https://ap-purchasing.fo.uiowa.edu/comfort-suites-coralville
Hotel availability in Iowa City is getting a little tight that weekend because of other events in the area, so we encourage you to make your reservations soon. That said, we've checked Booking.com, Travelocity, and Google Travel, and there are still hotel options available in Iowa City and the surrounding area that may not be in the above list. You may need to look a little beyond downtown, but there are still places to stay!