Episode Description
In this episode of the Berklee VoiceCast, host Charlie Christenson is joined by vocalist and educator Rebecca Shrimpton for a thoughtful exploration of the mind-body-voice connection. Drawing from her work as both a jazz vocalist and classical mezzo soprano, Rebecca shares how physical awareness, emotional state, and mental focus all shape the way singers experience and produce sound.
The conversation centers on how singers can move beyond purely technical approaches to embrace a more integrated, holistic understanding of the voice. Rebecca discusses how her own artistic journey led her to this work, and how she brings these ideas into the studio through practical techniques that help students develop consistency, freedom, and expressive depth.
Together, they explore how this connection shifts across styles—from jazz improvisation to classical repertoire—and why developing body awareness is essential for sustainable, versatile singing. Rebecca also addresses common misconceptions students have about vocal control and offers accessible ways to begin exploring these ideas in daily practice.
Credits
Produced and Hosted by Charlie Christenson
Music by Charlie Christenson
Guest Bio
Rebecca Shrimpton, acclaimed for her rare melding of a highly eclectic approach with a sumptuous and agile voice, is an assistant professor of voice at Berklee College of Music. She is a vocalist for Boston's 19-piece Jazz Composers Alliance Orchestra, with whom she has recorded eight CDs, including Why Do You Ride?, named to DownBeat Magazine's best of 2015 list. She also is a vocalist for OddSong, whose debut recording, Jailhouse Doc with Holes in Her Socks, was on Cadence Magazine's top 10 list for 2016. Shrimpton has performed with Norm Zocher's Electric Strings Band, the progressive rock band David Zoffer Differential, and was a guest artist with the ensemble Tapestry.
Shrimpton received international praise in 2005 for her solo CD, Madman's Moon. Her 2009 release, Requited, featured songs by best-selling novelist Anita Diamant (The Red Tent), pianist Bert Seager, and a brilliant band, featuring Rick DiMuzio (tenor saxophone), Jorge Roeder (bass), and Richie Barshay (drums).
Shrimpton, who composes and arranges for her jazz ensembles, recently expanded her writing to the theater. She has been music director for three productions by the Cape Ann Shakespeare Troupe, composing original scores, including eight songs using Shakespeare's lyrics from The Tempest. Her current project is a musical adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
She has performed at Cornelia Street Cafe and Somethin' Jazz Club in New York, New York; Regattabar, House of Blues, Ryles Jazz Club, the Beehive, Jordan Hall, and Berklee Performance Center in Boston, Massachusetts; and the exquisite Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, Massachusetts. She also was featured on two PBS/NPR concert broadcasts and recordings, performing with singer/actor Theodore Bikel.
Shrimpton has taught voice for nearly 20 years, including at New England Conservatory Preparatory, Longy School of Music, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Links from This Episode
Berklee College of Music: berklee.edu
Berklee Voice Department: college.berklee.edu/voice
Berklee Voice Instagram: instagram.com/berklee.voice/
Charlie Christenson: charliechristenson.com
Rebecca Shrimpton Website: https://rebeccashrimpton.com
Social Media: Facebook | LinkedIn
Further Reading: We Are What We Listen To by Patricia Caicedo
