Annual Utah Performance Voice Conference 2025

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES & DISCLOSURES

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Our 2025 Conference will be held online on Saturday, 4/12/2025. 

Keynote Speakers:

Science Behind the Tools Keynote

Jarrad Van Stan, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, Associate of Speech Language Pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital's Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation, and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. His research program explores the nuance of rehabilitation assessment and treatment, harnessing the latest theories, wearable technology, machine learning, and virtual reality to ensure that every voice is heard
 

  • Financial Disclosures: Dr. Van Stan is employed by the Harvard Medical School and his registration fee was waived an honorarium provided for his invited presentation. His research is also supported by several grants including R21-DC016124, R01-DC020247, F31-DC14412, R33-DC011588, P50-DC015446, and Patience-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (Contracts ME-1403014083, EASCS-24311).  
  • Non-Financial Disclosures: Dr. Van Stan is a member of ASHA and ASHA’s SIG3 and SIG-13, and member of the ACRM and past chair of the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification Networking Group.
     
JVS

Pedagogical Master Class Keynote

Emily Jaworski Koriath, DMA, SEP, SYT-200, is the editor and primary author of 2023’s Trauma and the Voice: A Guide for Singers, Teachers, and Other Practitioners, published by Rowman & Littlefield and the National Association of Teachers of Singing. In addition to her musical training, she completed the multi-year certification process to become a Somatic Experiencing ® Practitioner (SEP). Somatic Experiencing is the trauma healing modality developed by psychologist Peter Levine, Ph.D. through fifty years of studying trauma and its effects. Dr. Koriath spent twelve years in academia, first at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, followed by five years on the tenure track at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She now practices independently at Radiant Somatics, specializing in helping artists heal trauma.

  • Financial Disclosures: Dr. Jaworski Koriath if professionally supported through her work with clients at Radiant Somatics LLC; her registration was waived and an honorarium provided for her invited contribution as a keynote speaker.
  • Non-Financial Disclosures: Dr. Jaworski Koriath is a member of Somatic Experiencing International, The Embody Lab, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and the Pan-American Vocology Association.
     
EMILY JK

Conference Presenters:

 

Julie Barkmeier-Kraemer, PhD, CCC-SLP is a professor and chair in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders with a dual appointment as a professor in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, and Director of the Voice, Airway, Swallowing Translational (VAST) Research Lab at the University of Utah.  She has over 30 years of clinical and research experience in the areas of voice, swallowing, and airway disorders and longstanding NIH funding to support her translational research in neurolaryngology.

  • Financial Disclosures: Dr. Barkmeier-Kraemer is employed by the University of Utah and her registration was waived as a presenter and co-chair of the planning committee for the Utah Performance Voice Conference.
  • Non-Financial Disclosures: Dr. Barkmeier-Kraemer is a member of ASHA and the Special Interest Group 3, Voice and Upper Airway Disorders and served on the planning committee for the Utah Performance Voice Conference.
     

Emily Castleton, DMA Candidate, is an adjunct professor in the University of Utah Department of Theatre and an NCVS-trained vocologist. She holds a BFA in Music Dance Theatre and an MM in Vocal Performance from Brigham Young University. She will graduate this May from Shenandoah University’s Voice Pedagogy program with an emphasis in voice science and contemporary vocal styles. She is a student resident editor of the Journal of Voice.

  • Financial Disclosures: Ms. Castleton is employed by the University of Utah and her registration was waived as a presenter and co-chair of the planning committee for the Utah Performance Voice Conference.
  • Non-Financial Disclosures: Ms. Castleton is a member of National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), The Voice Foundation, Musical Theatre Educators’ Alliance (MTEA), and the Utah Music Educators Association (UMEA).
     

Elizabeth (Beth) Lanza, MA, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist at the University of Utah Voice Disorders Center. She specializes in working with individuals with voice, swallowing, and upper airway disorders. Beth holds a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University and received additional training at the Summer Vocology Institute with the National Center for Voice and Speech. Before becoming a SLP, Beth worked as a professional actor, singer, and voice teacher and loves all things related to voice.

  • Financial Disclosures: Ms. Lanza is employed by the University of Utah and her registration was waived as a presenter and member of the planning committee for the Utah Performance Voice Conference.
  • Non-Financial Disclosures: Ms. Lanza is a member of ASHA and ASHA’s SIGS 3 and 13.
     

Megan Lee, MS, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist at the University of Utah Voice Disorders Center. She specializes in working with individuals with voice, swallowing, and upper airway disorders. Megan holds a master’s degree from the University of Utah. Additionally, she is a classically trained singer, voice teacher, and music educator.

  • Financial Disclosures: Ms. Lee is employed by the University of Utah and her registration was waived as a presenter and member of the planning committee for the Utah Performance Voice Conference.
  • Non-Financial Disclosures: Ms. Lee is a member of ASHA, ASHA SIGs 3 & 11.
     

Brian Manternach, DM, is an associate professor (clinical) in the University of Utah Department of Theatre and a research associate at the Utah Center for Vocology, where he serves on the faculty of the Summer Vocology Institute. He holds a Doctor of Music in vocal performance from Indiana University, is an associate editor of the Journal of Singing, and regularly contributes to Classical Singer magazine. 

  • Financial Disclosures: Dr. Manternach is employed by the University of Utah and his registration was waived as a presenter and member of the planning committee for the Utah Performance Voice Conference.
  • Non-Financial Disclosures: Dr. Manternach is an active member of Utah NATS District and PAVA and served on the planning committee for the Utah Performance Voice Conference.
     

Lynn Maxfield, PhD, is the Director for the Utah Center for Vocology (UCV) and Associate Research Director for Research Development in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Utah.  He also holds a faculty appointment in the University of Utah’s School of Music and is the contracted Vocal Coach at the University of Utah Health Voice Disorders Center.  His PhD is in Voice Pedagogy with an MA in Voice Performance from the University of Iowa.  

  • Financial Disclosures: Dr. Maxfield is employed by the University of Utah and his registration was waived as a presenter and co-chair of the planning committee for the Utah Performance Voice Conference.
  • Non-Financial Disclosures:  Dr. Maxfield is a founding member of the Pan American Vocology Association (PAVA) and also served on the planning committee for the Utah Performance Voice Conference.
     

Jenny Pierce, PhD, CCC-SLP is a research assistant professor at the University of Utah in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery; member of the Voice, Airway, Swallowing Translational (VAST) Research Lab; and per diem speech-language pathologist in the LDS Hospital Voice and Swallowing Center. She has expertise in neurogenic voice disorders and translational research related to a novel treatment for vocal fold scar and subglottic stenosis. She is also a classically trained soprano.

  • Financial Disclosures: Dr. Pierce is employed by the University of Utah and her registration was waived as a presenter and member of the planning committee for the Utah Performance Voice Conference. She is also employed by an NIH-funded project related to idiopathic vocal fold paralysis (R01DC011311, PI: Julie Barkmeier-Kraemer) and by a project investigating a novel approach for treating vocal fold scar using a rabbit model (Skaggs Foundation, PI: Marshall Smith).
  • Non-Financial Disclosures: Dr. Pierce is a member of ASHA and the planning committee for the Utah Performance Voice Conference.
     

Breanne Schiffer, MD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. She is a board-certified otolaryngologist and fellowship-trained Laryngologist. Dr. Schiffer’s expertise includes evaluation and surgical and medical care of the voice.  

  • Financial Disclosures:  Dr. Schiffer is employed by the University of Utah and a co-investigator on several NIH funded grants supporting research investigating neurogenic voice disorders and breathing issues related to asthma and subglottic stenosis laryngeal dystonia and vocal tremor (P50DC 019900, PI: Simonyan; R01DC016838, PI: Barkmeier-Kraemer), in addition to translational work with Dr. Tanner investigating the impact of corticosteroids and asthma on vocal fold epithelium (R01DC016269, PI: Tanner). Her registration was waived in association with her participation in this conference.
  • Non-Financial Disclosures:  Dr. Schiffer is a member of the American Laryngological Association, the American Broncho-Esophagological Association, and American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. She was also a member of the planning committee for the Utah Performance Voice Conference.
     

Amanda Stark, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a post-doctorate in the Voice, Airway, Swallowing Translational (VAST) Research Lab in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, and per diem speech-language pathologist at the Voice Disorders Center at the University of Utah. Dr. Stark has expertise in performing voice, neurogenic voice and speech populations as well as upper airway disorders. She is employed by NIH-funded projects related to laryngeal dystonia and vocal tremor (P50DC 019900, PI: Simonyan; R01DC016838, PI: Barkmeier-Kraemer), in addition to translational work with Dr. Tanner investigating the impact of corticosteroids and asthma on vocal fold epithelium (R01DC016269, PI: Tanner).

  • Financial Disclosures: Dr. Stark is employed by the University of Utah and works clinically and on funded research at the University of Utah.  Her registration was waived in association with her participation in this conference and service on the planning committee.
  • Non-Financial Disclosures: Dr. Stark is a member of ASHA and the Special Interest Group 3, Voice and Upper Airway Disorders and served on the planning committee for the Utah Performance Voice Conference.
     

Jarrad Van Stan, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, Associate of Speech Language Pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital's Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation, and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. His research program explores the nuance of rehabilitation assessment and treatment, harnessing the latest theories, wearable technology, machine learning, and virtual reality to ensure that every voice is heard

  • Financial Disclosures: Dr. Van Stan is employed by the Harvard Medical School and his registration fee was waived an honorarium provided for his invited presentation. His research is also supported by several grants including R21-DC016124, R01-DC020247, F31-DC14412, R33-DC011588, P50-DC015446, and Patience-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (Contracts ME-1403014083, EASCS-24311).  
  • Non-Financial Disclosures: Dr. Van Stan is a member of ASHA and ASHA’s SIG3 and SIG-13, and member of the ACRM and past chair of the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification Networking Group.

Conference Planning Committee