My Personal Journey
Welcome to Body Heart Voice, I'm Liesl McPherrin. I am a classically trained singer, professionally performing in opera and choral music, as well as a voice teacher & choir director. I earned my Bachelor of Music at San Francisco State University and Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance at Westminster Choir College.
I came into music by accident, really, and yet there is no way I could have landed in any other field (I mean… I was named after a character in a musical). My parents are not particularly musical people, my father played trumpet in college, but that was about it. I never knew my grandmother, who was a first generation American and became a pianist for the silent movies. Yet, from the time I was 3, I knew I had to pursue music. I asked for a violin — didn’t get one. I asked to play trumpet — they discouraged that after a year (it isn’t exactly a quiet instrument, after all), and I did take years and years of piano lessons, but my voice was always part of me. I was in singing groups and choruses through my public schools from the 7th grade on. My teachers encouraged me to try singing at local music festivals for adjudication, and later my theater and choral teacher cast me as leading roles in our school musicals.
Being part of productions and choral classes in high school was paramount in my music journey. The theater and singing community was a safe place in an otherwise tough high school environment. As I prepared to leave high school I nearly dashed my dreams of becoming a professional singer and began University as a journalism major. The idea of not striving to be a musician terrified me more than taking the risk of working toward my singing dreams.
After one semester at San Francisco State, I was a newly minted Music Major. I also began my yoga journey at San Francisco State - taking my first Hatha Yoga class over 10 years ago.
I attended Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ for my Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance. This was the only US Master of Music program I found where I could both actively pursue my love for being on the stage and performing with my affinity for studying voice science. During my Master of Music program, I was finding that I was experiencing health problems related to too much anxiety, being overloaded with classes and pressure from competition. It wasn't until I began working on yoga with a mentor who had a yoga program for singers that I really began to understand how a regular practice and change in lifestyle could improve my singing life. Beyond college, I started taking yoga classes throughout Northern California and finding community within these studio spaces. I became a certified yoga instructor to better serve my students and music colleagues. I earned my 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training certificate through YogaRenew, where I also earned my 20 hour Yin Yoga teaching certificate.
Voice science has always supported a prime physical condition for singers, but often fails to address the mental health concerns of the performer and how they affect the body. Through voice lessons, my students learn the value of personal discovery and self-care, as well as a foundation in healthy technique. We occasionally use yoga movements and techniques to release tension in the body and allow singers to discover a free, healthy sound. I actively support the learning opportunities for all students and the continuing education of teachers. I serve on the board of the San Francsico Bay Area Chapter for the National Association of Teachers of Singing. In 2019, I created a podcast for young singers pursuing a professional music career, the Operapreneur Podcast often highlights the challenges and rewards of being a singer in the modern world. My goal as a teacher is to help young artists overcome the fear and anxiety involved in performing so that they can truly create art with their voices.
When our bodies can express joy, fear, anger, and sadness freely, our voices can do the same. Body Heart Voice is a place to study singing where musicians of all ages can express their music in a supportive and friendly environment. Join us for our group singing classes, individual voice lessons, or visit the Appointments page to learn about upcoming classes or workshops!
*I am certified to teach Multi-Style Yoga (primarily in the Hatha & Vinyasa Style), with the Yoga Alliance 200 Hour RYT, and Yin Yoga, 20 Hour Certification.
**I hold a Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance, and am an active member of the National Association for Teachers of Singing.
I came into music by accident, really, and yet there is no way I could have landed in any other field (I mean… I was named after a character in a musical). My parents are not particularly musical people, my father played trumpet in college, but that was about it. I never knew my grandmother, who was a first generation American and became a pianist for the silent movies. Yet, from the time I was 3, I knew I had to pursue music. I asked for a violin — didn’t get one. I asked to play trumpet — they discouraged that after a year (it isn’t exactly a quiet instrument, after all), and I did take years and years of piano lessons, but my voice was always part of me. I was in singing groups and choruses through my public schools from the 7th grade on. My teachers encouraged me to try singing at local music festivals for adjudication, and later my theater and choral teacher cast me as leading roles in our school musicals.
Being part of productions and choral classes in high school was paramount in my music journey. The theater and singing community was a safe place in an otherwise tough high school environment. As I prepared to leave high school I nearly dashed my dreams of becoming a professional singer and began University as a journalism major. The idea of not striving to be a musician terrified me more than taking the risk of working toward my singing dreams.
After one semester at San Francisco State, I was a newly minted Music Major. I also began my yoga journey at San Francisco State - taking my first Hatha Yoga class over 10 years ago.
I attended Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ for my Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance. This was the only US Master of Music program I found where I could both actively pursue my love for being on the stage and performing with my affinity for studying voice science. During my Master of Music program, I was finding that I was experiencing health problems related to too much anxiety, being overloaded with classes and pressure from competition. It wasn't until I began working on yoga with a mentor who had a yoga program for singers that I really began to understand how a regular practice and change in lifestyle could improve my singing life. Beyond college, I started taking yoga classes throughout Northern California and finding community within these studio spaces. I became a certified yoga instructor to better serve my students and music colleagues. I earned my 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training certificate through YogaRenew, where I also earned my 20 hour Yin Yoga teaching certificate.
Voice science has always supported a prime physical condition for singers, but often fails to address the mental health concerns of the performer and how they affect the body. Through voice lessons, my students learn the value of personal discovery and self-care, as well as a foundation in healthy technique. We occasionally use yoga movements and techniques to release tension in the body and allow singers to discover a free, healthy sound. I actively support the learning opportunities for all students and the continuing education of teachers. I serve on the board of the San Francsico Bay Area Chapter for the National Association of Teachers of Singing. In 2019, I created a podcast for young singers pursuing a professional music career, the Operapreneur Podcast often highlights the challenges and rewards of being a singer in the modern world. My goal as a teacher is to help young artists overcome the fear and anxiety involved in performing so that they can truly create art with their voices.
When our bodies can express joy, fear, anger, and sadness freely, our voices can do the same. Body Heart Voice is a place to study singing where musicians of all ages can express their music in a supportive and friendly environment. Join us for our group singing classes, individual voice lessons, or visit the Appointments page to learn about upcoming classes or workshops!
*I am certified to teach Multi-Style Yoga (primarily in the Hatha & Vinyasa Style), with the Yoga Alliance 200 Hour RYT, and Yin Yoga, 20 Hour Certification.
**I hold a Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance, and am an active member of the National Association for Teachers of Singing.
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