BIOGRAPHY

Aubrey Lauren is a vocalist, researcher, and educator whose work spans the realms of performance, pedagogy, and musicological inquiry. Originally from LaGrange, Illinois, she now resides in Kāne'ohe, Hawai'i, and is soon to begin her doctoral studies at the University of Auckland in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Her PhD research centers on vocal music in Eastern Germany after World War II, exploring the intricate intersections of politics and music in postwar society.

With a background that blends rigorous academic training and diverse performance experience, Aubrey brings a uniquely interdisciplinary perspective to her work. She holds a Master of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa and a Bachelor of Arts in Voice Performance from Northwestern University, where she completed a double major in Opera Performance and a self-designed major in Music Business, alongside a minor in Musicology focused on international music from 1980 to the present.

As a performer, she is known for her clarity of tone, expressive nuance, and stylistic versatility. She has appeared as a soloist with ensembles including the Hawai'i Vocal Arts Ensemble, Early Music Hawai'i, First Congressional Church of LaGrange, and the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, and has performed at venues ranging from local cafés to Carnegie Hall.

Equally dedicated to teaching, Aubrey is an award-winning voice, piano, and violin coach, offering instruction with over a decade of experience. Her accolades include multiple "Teacher of the Year" honors from Lessonface across a range of vocal styles, including opera, country, metal, and folk. Her pedagogical approach is rooted in having a strong understanding of vocal anatomy, an emphasis on creativity, and fostering student-centered growth through building confidence.

Her teaching background includes work as Lead Voice Coach and Online Program Manager for Altered Stage in Chicago, as well as instructional roles with Guitar Center, Flatts and Sharpe, and other private studios. In addition to managing a full private studio, she also currently serves as Choir Director at Parker United Methodist Church in Kāne'ohe, where she curates music programming and leads weekly services.

Beyond the studio and the stage, Aubrey is active in academic and artistic communities. She has presented guest lectures and vocal masterclasses at institutions such as Brigham Young University and the University of Hawai'i. She is an active board member of Early Music Hawaii and a member of the Philanthropic Education Organization (P.E.O.) International. Her scholarship and performance work have been supported by numerous awards and fellowships, including the Andrew Nyborg Fellowship, the Arthur and Mae Orvis Vocal Music Scholarship, and the University of Hawaiʻi’s Departmental Merit Scholarship.

Also a composer and collaborator, Aubrey has contributed to projects ranging from experimental song cycles and ballet scores to interdisciplinary gallery installations. Her original works have been featured in venues such as the Dittmar Gallery at Northwestern University and in collaboration with artists including Hunter Hanson, Mark Burns, Paul Gabriel Cosme, and Ben Zucker.

Through all facets of her work—research, performance, teaching, and composition—Aubrey remains guided by a deep belief in music’s power to connect, challenge, and uplift. She is particularly interested in how the human voice serves as both a personal and public instrument, capable of carrying stories across time, borders, and ideologies.