EVT History

Jo Estill, world-renowned educator, researcher, and singer, founded Estill Voice Training™ (originally called Estill Voice Craft™) and the Figures for Voice™(originally known as Compulsory Figures for Voice™) in 1988.

Jo, currently of Santa Rosa, CA, began her career as a “classical” singer of Lieder and Opera. Now she may best be known for her work with “Belting,” a voice quality heard in Pop and Music Theatre singing. Her unique approach separates the mechanics of singing from artistic and aesthetic preconceptions.

With nearly 25 years of experience in research in the vocal physiology, acoustics, and perception of voice quality, Ms. Estill has been published in the Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology, Journal of Voice, Medical Problems of Performing Arts, and, most recently, in Vocal Fold Physiology: Voice Quality Control, and Vocal Fold Physiology: Controlling Complexity and Chaos.

Jo Estill has taught voice at college and professional levels for over 30 years, and has conducted workshops in Compulsory Figures for Voice™ since 1988. She has traveled to five continents training singers, actors, teachers, speech pathologists and others. Included on her resume are four 2-month sessions-in-residence at the Shiki Theatre and the Shochiku Dance Company in Tokyo, and two visits to London's Central School for Speech and Drama.