An Audience with Ian Meeson & Michael Mandalios

Healthy Voice Use for Performers in Other Specialisms

Wednesday 21st October | 7.00pm UK TIME

PURCHASE HERE

This live event focuses on how to support performers to use their voices healthily, sustainably and confidently, whatever their primary specialism.

For many performers, the voice is an essential part of their work, even when singing isn’t their primary discipline. Dancers may be expected to sing, actors may find themselves singing or using their voices extensively and Musical Theatre performers are often asking their voices to meet multiple physical demands at once.

During this live event, we’ll explore the vocal health considerations that arise when working with performers outside a traditional singing-focused context. We’ll look at how to recognise and manage vocal demands, support nervous or inexperienced singers, navigate the psychological pressures performers can experience around their voices and encourage healthy vocal use when singing and movement come together.

Join us live for the chance to ask your own questions.

Michael Mandalios is a voice coach, and a Voice Rehabilitation Specialist in-training.
He is certified as a Vocal Habilitation Professional by Vocal Health Education, and now manages both this course and the Vocal Health First Aid course for VHE. Originally from the Gold Coast, he has a decade’s experience working in the performing arts in Brisbane, Australia [Meanjin]. Now, he works primarily from Valentine Voice Care in Glasgow and online. Glasgow is where Michael was certified in Vocal Massage & Laryngeal Manual Therapy, trained by Kate Valentine.
As a voice care professional, Michael has worked with performers from Scottish Opera, National Theatre of Scotland & Dundee Rep, and UK tours of Tina: The Musical, Sunny Afternoon: The Kinks Musical , The High Life , and more. On behalf of Valentine Voice Care and Vocal Health Education, Michael has presented vocal health talks and workshops for Voces8, Musicians Union, University of Birmingham and Scottish Opera. He is a graduate of the Bachelor of Musical Theatre from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University and has studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.
Before moving to Scotland, Michael was a Lecturer in Voice, Speech & Dialect at the Australian Performing Arts Conservatory and also coached gender-diverse voice users in gender-affirming voice practice at Stonewall Medical Centre.
Michael has also worked as a dialect coach for various productions (including Duck Duck Goose, I Love You, Bro, Nine) and as an actor, his credits include a wide range of plays and musicals. He also served as Treasurer on the management committee for the Actors’ & Entertainers’ Benevolent Fund of QLD Inc., and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.

Ian commenced his performing career as the lead singer on the re-release of the Queen hit ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’, produced by Brian May at Abbey Road Studios. He was just 13 years old at the time.

Following intensive dance training in his hometown of Blackpool, alongside vocal training with renowned singing teacher Ian Adam in London, he was cast as Mungojerrie in the West End production of ‘Cats’ in 1993, at just 17 years old. This was followed by roles in the West End musicals ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’, ‘Fame’ and ‘Starlight Express’.

In 2000, Ian composed the songs for the new Cirque Musical ‘Eclipse’, in which he also played the ethereal narrator. The music album was subsequently released, and Ian appeared as a principal dancer and vocalist in ‘Eclipse’ at the Royal Variety Performance in London.

Ian then began teaching singing to the dance students at Theatreworks vocational college, where he taught for eight years. His students have since appeared in more than 40 West End musicals collectively. During this time, Ian became interested in furthering his knowledge of the voice and gained his London College of Music singing teacher status in 2005.

Ian’s professional dance career then led him to choreograph the musicals ‘A Chorus Line’ and ‘Peter Pan’ for the Lowry Theatre in Manchester in 2010. From there, he became an examiner for the International Dance Teachers Association, where he co-wrote technical dance syllabi and the first-ever Musical Theatre syllabus for a dance organisation.

In 2015, Ian authored a book that was distributed worldwide to assist dance teachers in encouraging singing within their schools. He subsequently lectured and examined in dance and musical theatre internationally.

A few years ago, Ian gained his Vocal Habilitation Professional qualification with Vocal Health Education, which he says has considerably assisted his singing teaching.

Two years ago, Ian opened an independent Performing Arts Sixth Form college, ‘Blackpool Theatre Collective’, where he remains co-owner and principal.

This event is free for VHE Members and £10 for non-members. 30-days access to the catchup recording is available.

VHE MEMBERS: You will receive an email with the Zoom link and a calendar invite. Please keep an eye on your inbox for all the event details.

If you don’t receive anything, please email admin@vocalhealth.co.uk.

Purchase here!