La voix harmonisée

La voix harmonisée uses operatic vocal techniques to support the gender-affirming vocal modification process for transgender women. The program was developed by the Opéra de Montréal in collaboration with Cédric Maguin, member of the Ordre des Orthophonistes et Audiologistes du Québec and speech therapist at the Orthophonie Montréal clinic. Mezzo-soprano and yoga teacher Charlotte Gagnon designed the program activities, which adopt an exploratory approach to gender-affirming vocal coaching.

For trans women, hormone therapy has no effect on the voice. This can be a major barrier to the gender affirmation process, but vocal feminization training helps many trans women bridge the gap between how they sound and how they want to be perceived.

This project acts as a preliminary approach to the vocal modification techniques used by speech therapists. Drawing on the vocal techniques of opera singers, countertenors in particular, our teaching artists help trans women create harmony between their voices and their gender identities. During these operatic vocal coaching session, participants are invited to use breathing exercises, targeted muscular development, and specialized vocalises to gain better control of the vocal apparatus – with the ultimate goal of creating a confidence-building and gender-affirming vocal experience.