Gwen Overland is an unconventional speech and singing teacher that considers whole voice work to be also body and image work. She believes that the voice is more than just a means of transport for the spoken or sung word. Voice is also the resonance of inner states -- it reflects bodily and psychic impulses, it reverberates movements and emotions, it evokes and provokes the memory and imagination, reminding one of elemental and animal origins, expressing spiritual aspirations. It creates links to personal and collective individualities. Voice makes human nature audible, reveals contradictions and defenses, allows limits to be felt and overcome.
Gwen's classes and workshops are for those seeking artistic and/or creative self-expression, those who want to open themselves to their voices and thereby to themselves and others. Through the playful sounding of vowels and consonants in improvisations and focused exercises, the trust in one's vocal capacities is reawakened and unimagined possibilities of range, color, power, dynamic and shape emerge.
Gwen holds bachelor and graduate degrees in music performance from Southern Illinois University, a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from UC-Irvine and a Ph.D. in theatre from UCLA. She is best known in this valley as a stage director, professional actress and musician. Gwen also teaches part time at SOU, is music director at the First Presbyterian Church of Ashland, leads whole voice workshops nationally, and maintains a private voice studio.