2024 Van L. Lawrence Fellowship Winner, Dr. Ana Flavia Zuim, PhD
Dr. Ana Flavia Zuim, Ph.D.
The primary purpose of Ana Flavia’s research proposal is to explore thresholds of safe vocal dosing via dosimetry and singers’ perception of vocal fatigue via the EASE score. Data will be pursued by creating a catalog of vocal doses, from song and dialogue, of individual Broadway roles as sung by Broadway professionals. The secondary purpose is to conduct an analysis of the acoustical strategies utilized by the singers during key moments of heavy vocal intensity. This would/will inform how acoustical strategies impact the overall vocal dose. Having published two papers in dosimetry in recent years alongside Dr. Celia Stewart and Dr. Ingo Titze, this subsequent investigation will allow them to continue exploring this field more in depth. These data can serve as a baseline for the distance dose required for each role, which alongside self reported measures of vocal fatigue can prove helpful in generating energy-dissipation-dose (EDD: calculated from amplitude, frequency, and duration) aiming to establish recommended singing thresholds for performers.
A true expert in her field, Dr. Zuim’s work as a voice scientist has been recently highlighted by CBS. Credited with over 70 musical theater productions throughout her career, her work as a musical director and pianist has culminated in several awards, and her research led to findings that can impact the voice field. Her love for sound and the human voice has shaped her career as a musical director/conductor, voice scientist and expert witness. A renowned international scholar, Dr. Zuim has conducted seminars and workshops all over the world, including Israel, Japan, Taiwan, Brazil, Turkey, Greece, Canada and Australia, with upcoming paper presentations and workshops in Thailand, Italy and Scotland. The knowledge of voice science and acoustics acquired during her career, combined with her passion for languages paved the way for serving as an expert witness in forensic voice analysis. Dr. Zuim served as Director of Vocal Performance at the Steinhardt School at New York University from 2016 to 2022 and was promoted to Associate Music Professor in 2022. Prior to joining the NYU faculty, Dr. Zuim served as Director of Contemporary Voice at the Frost School of Music with a secondary appointment as Lecturer of Otolaryngology at the Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami. In addition to being a multi award-winner musical director/conductor, Dr. Zuim’s credits include the iconic musical Hamilton (rehearsal pianist/vocal coach), Billy Elliot (musical director/pianist), among others.
Music Associate Professor of Vocal Performance
The Steinhardt School – New York University
NCVS Insights Co-Editor
National Center for Voice and Speech
www.anaflaviazuim.com
Many thanks to the Van Lawrence Fellowship Committee:
Robert T. Sataloff, Chair
Diana Allan, Margaret Baroody, Lynn Helding, Adam Rubin, Josef Schlömicher-Thier
The Van L. Lawrence Fellowship was created to honor Van L. Lawrence, M.D. for his outstanding contribution to voice, and particularly to recognize the importance of the interdisciplinary education he fostered among laryngologists and singing teachers. It is awarded jointly by The Voice Foundation and National Association of Teachers of Singing Foundation. The Fellowship winner will be provided with the opportunity to attend the annual Symposium on Care of the Professional Voice and visit laryngologists, speech pathologists, voice scientists, and research centers associated with The Voice Foundation during the fellowship year, with resulting research to be considered for expedited publication in the Journal of Voice or Journal of Singing. The Fellowship winners are members of the National Association of Teachers of Singing who are actively engaged in teaching, have demonstrated excellence in their profession as singing teachers, and have shown interest in and knowledge of voice science. The Fellowship and $2000 award are intended to provide opportunities for the Fellow to become more thoroughly acquainted with practices, techniques, technology and people involved in laryngology and voice science. It is hoped that the opportunities and contacts provided through the Fellowship experience will enhance the teacher’s ability to do meaningful interdisciplinary research, and will encourage the teacher to apply appropriate voice science advances in the studio.
