“Giving hope for a longer, happier life”
What is the Voice Health Institute?
The Voice Health Institute provides support to various Voice Restoration Research Programs. This is a large collaborative effort between scientists and clinicians at Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston University seeking to develop methods for repairing scarred vocal folds.
Why is it important to raise awareness?
Hundreds of singers suffer from diseases that affect their vocal cords. As a result, they are forced to undergo surgery to salvage their vocal instrument. A majority of people aren’t aware of the extremity of damage caused by vocal fold scarring, damages to the larynx among others. It is important to raise awareness to these issues now more than
ever before. As individuals are living longer, it is important to tackle the reversal of long term effects of aging on voice.
Why Julie Andrews?
We all know the iconic, talented legend, Julie Andrews. Andrews is the honorary chairwoman of the Voice Health Institute, this title was given to her due to Andrews’ personal experiences with her vocal issues, as they surfaced as a young performer.
During Monday’s gala, Andrews graciously praised the Institute and shared her story and experience with voice health. “I started singing at about age 7 and I had one of those four-octave ranges. I would hit high notes and dogs would howl for miles around,” she explains. “When I was magically asked to come to Broadway [in the original production of My Fair Lady in 1956], one of the difficult things was sustaining eight shows a week. Being in My Fair Lady for two years, slamming vocal cords together, with perhaps a week off here and there, was really daunting.”
What brought these incredibly talented musicians together?
Sam Smith, Keith Urban, Roger Daltrey, special guest, Julie Andrews to name a few, all were in attendance Monday night. What, or much rather, who, do they all have in common? Dr. Steven Zeitels.
Dr. Zeitels, treated each one of these singers bringing their voice back to good health.
The star studded event was full of glitz and glamour. The concert had performances by Sam Smith, Christina Perri, Keith Urban among others who were presented on stage.
All these influential, powerful individuals came together to raise awareness about diseases that shut our most powerful tool, voice.
So, what can we do to raise our voice for those who are suffering to use theirs?
A good start would be to visit Voice Health Institute and see how you can contribute to the cause or simply learn the ways in which you can spread awareness…
