Flexible Fach

Gender Affirming Vocal Pedagogy with

Dr. Stevie Hirner

In this interactive session, attendees will be invited to discuss vocal exercises from a new protocol developed by the presenter that focuses on helping transgender and gender-expansive (TGE) singers produce an aural aesthetic that better aligns with their gender identity.

Created through an understanding of the gendered associations and vocal characteristics of common Fach categories and voice classifications, this protocol synthesizes practices from gender-affirming speech-language pathology (SLP) with source-filter theory and science-informed vocal pedagogy to present a healthy gender-affirming practice routine for TGE singers who are seeking to masculinize or feminize their singing voices.

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Meet Your Professor

Stevie J. Hirner, DMA (she/her), is a choral conductor, composer, singer, and educator who specializes in cultivating transgender and gender expansive inclusivity in singing through empathetic practices and science-informed vocal pedagogy. As a transgender musician and one of the leading researchers in her field, Dr. Hirner is a sought-after lecturer and clinician at universities and professional conferences. Her article discussing her gender inclusive methodology, “Line Recombination,” appeared in the November/December 2022 issue of the Choral Journal, and her recent conference interest sessions include presentations on her line recombination methodology at the 2023 ACDA National Conference and the 2023 World Symposium on Choral Music in addition to introducing her new gender affirming singing protocol, “Flexible Fach,” at five out of the six Regional Conferences of the American Choral Directors Association in Spring 2024.

Dr. Hirner completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Music at the University of Southern California (USC) with secondary emphases in Music Theory and Analysis, Vocology, and Gender and Sexuality Studies in 2024, and she joined the faculty at the University of Montana in Fall 2024 as the Interim Director of Choral Activities. Prior to her new appointment, Dr. Hirner was a lecturer in Choral and Voice Methods at California State University - Long Beach, and from 2020-24, she served as the Artistic Director of the Long Beach Youth Chorus. During her studies at USC, she was the lead conductor for the USC Thornton Apollo Chorus and the University Chorus in addition to teaching Choral Conducting I/II to undergraduate and graduate students. Before returning to graduate school in 2020, Dr. Hirner taught middle and high school choir for six years in Chicago and Miami in addition to serving as the associate conductor for the Master Chorale of South Florida from 2016-2020. Dr. Hirner completed her Bachelor of Music Education at Auburn University in 2012 and her Master of Music in Choral Conducting at the University of Missouri in 2014.

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