Voicecraft International Pty. Ltd.

DR ALISON BAGNALL

8th April 1948 - 18th June 2011

Founding Director - Voicecraft International Pty. Ltd.

Speech Pathologist

Voice Specialist

Feldenkrais Practitioner

Churchill Fellow

Alison initially developed her private practice for voice professionals over two decades ago and has taught Voicecraft®, a physiologic/acoustic model for the understanding of the voice, nationally and internationally to voice professionals for 24 years.

She was the Founding Director of Voicecraft® International Pty. Ltd. and conducted public and specialist workshops of half a day to 6 days duration throughout New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Greece, United Kingdom and Ireland. Alison headed a private practice in Adelaide and took a leading role with the Australian CranioFacial Institute to establish and oversee the development of a speech therapy facility in a major hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Voicecraft® has proved particularly relevant for those who rely on their voice to "perform well" in their professional and personal lives. Alison worke with a range of professional groups where voice quality is a key component. She assisted singers, classical, choral and contemporary. She trained actors, auctioneers, public speakers, lecturers, teachers, politicians and media presenters. She assisted managers to present convincingly and powerfully when under stress. She educated undergraduate speech pathologists, served as artist-in-residence at the University of Western Sydney,and trained the cast of "Phantom". Her restoration of voices in difficulty, including that of the performer who went on to win "The Singer of the World" competition in Wales in 1991, established her reputation as "Voice Therapist" to those who perform on the international circuit. She believed that anyone can develop the power, versatility and stamina of their voice.

Voicecraft® is not just an approach to singing. The "Voicecraft®" approach was developed by Alison to embrace a body of work relevant to both speakers and singers. Alison's educational background enabled this complex technical area to be accessed by anyone interested in improving their voice. Her training methods combine precise task analysis, Feldenkrais-style body awareness and a therapeutic approach to the development of every individual's voice.

Voicecraft® attends to both the mechanics and the psycho-dynamics of the voice. Her conviction was that overcoming voice difficulties inevitably involves more than changing vocal techniques and encouraged participants to empower themselves by addressing the emotional issues that are influencing the impact of their voice.

Her unique approach evolved from a career as a speech pathologist in the UK and Australia, including 18 years as Consultant Speech Pathologist to the Australian Craniofacial Unit in Adelaide, where she established in 1983, the first video-fibreoptic laryngoscopy clinic in Australia. She trained extensively with Jo Estill, singer and voice researcher in US and more recently collaborated with John Warren, Psychotherapist.

Alison was awarded her PhD in February 2008 for her research into Voicecraft® which substantiated its effectiveness.

A Brisbane Speech Pathologist at a training workshop once described Voicecraft® in these terms:

"This view is based on sound theoretical knowledge and,therefore, every aspect of it can be substantiated. This gives us the POWER to do anything we wish with our voice. It also means we can give valuable, sound advice for specific problems and know exactly why we are doing something."

Alison passed away after a long battle with cancer in June 2011. She will be remembered with love and respect by her colleagues and peers and her legacy will be upheld by those who are committed to ensuring the continuation of her life's work.