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Lisa Stephanie Popeil (born February 24, 1956, in Chicago) is an American voice coach, singer, and musician. She is the creator of the trademarked Voiceworks Method and, as a voice coach, specializes in the pedagogy of vocal styles. She attended the California Institute of the California Institute of the Arts where she earned her BFA in General Music and an MFA in Voice.
Early life and education
Popeil is the eldest daughter of inventor S. J. Popeil (1915–1984)[1] and Eloise Popeil (1925–2010). Popeil's half-brother, Ron Popeil, was an inventor and marketer.
In 1984, Popeil produced her self-titled album Lisa Popeil which was chosen as a Billboard Top Album Pick. That record featured Steve Vai and Joe LoDuca as guest musicians. She appeared at a 1998 concert at the Getty Center, performing in Erik Satie's Socrate.[3]
In 1995, Popeil released her Total Singer video/DVD program followed by the educational CD How to Speak Beautifully. In reference to her brother being a pitchman for gadgets, she says she is "The pitch woman of voice".[2]
As a voice researcher, Ms. Popeil has conducted research with Drs. Johan Sundberg, Ken-Ichi Sakakibara, Matthias Echternach, Jack Jiang, Nathalie Henrich, Steven Feinberg, and Thomas Cleveland.
Her "Daily Vocal Workout for Pop Singers" CD was released in 2013.
In 2014, Popeil sang background vocals on "Weird Al" Yankovic's "Tacky", a parody of Pharrell Williams "Happy".
In 2016, Popeil performed in Oslo, Norway for the ZappaUnion concert reprising her 1981 Frank Zappa performance.
In 2019, Popeil toured as a background singer with "Weird Al" Yankovic on his Strings Attached Tour.[4]
Honors and awards
In 2006, Popeil received the 'Career Achievement in Vocal Instruction' from the LA Music Awards. She has taught singing to the children of migrant workers as part of the Migrant Education Program, a program of the Los Angeles County Office of Education,[5] and to students at Wayland Baptist University competing for scholarship at the Music Achievement Awards.[6]
Popeil received the 'Plaque Sergio Rainis' award for her 'Achievements in the Field of Vocal Pedagogy' from the Croatian Choral Directors Association in 2014.
Writing
"Journal of Singing" – ('Multiplicity of Belting' and 'Differences Between Belting and Classical Voice Production')
"Journal of Voice" – ('Substyles of Belting: Phonatory and Resonatory Characteristics' with Drs. Johan Sundberg and Margareta Thalen)
Oxford Handbook of Music Education contributor
Oxford Handbook of Singing contributor ('Different Sung Genres" with Gillyanne Kayes and Jeremy Fisher of Vocal Process)
^Stewart, Jocelyn Y. (July 29, 1990). "A New Crop of Bright Minds Education: A county program to help the children of migrant farm workers complete their schooling is paving the way from Santa Clarita Valley fields to institutions of higher learning". Los Angeles Times. p. 3.
^"School of Music Shows Talent". Washington, D.C. Targeted News Service. April 11, 2011.