Voice Explorers - Journey Deep Into Your Voice
Facilitated By: Marya Lowry & Phil Timberlake
Thurs, September 17 - Sun, September 20, 2026
Teaching duo Marya Lowry and Phil Timberlake will be your guides as you traverse the range of the human voice. Laugh, cry, shout and sing! Surprise yourself as you uncover highs and lows, creaks and squeals, peeps and growls. There is no perfect sound, only you sounding more like you. This stuff is fun! Join us!
The Workshop:
- Body and movement work to deepen body/breath/voice connection
- Improvisational vocal explorations to extended range, color, and timbre
- Group work and individual work
- Practice the art of listening to others and oneself
- Time to reflect, swim in the lake, gather around the bonfire, hike in the woods.
- The workshop will be taught in the tradition of the Roy Hart Centre approach to voice, explore pathways to multi-octaves of sound and expression
Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing, there is a field.
I’ll meet you there. -–Rumi
Sample Schedule:
Day 1, Thursday 9/17:
10am-12:00pm Arrival / Registration (please pack your own lunch)
12:30-1:30pm Orientation & Tour
1:30-2:00pm Break
2:00-5:30pm Session #1
5:30-7:00pm Break
7:00-8:00pm Dinner
8:00-9:00pm Kitchen Orientation + all hands on deck clean up
Day 2, Friday 9/18 and Day 3, Saturday 9/19:
DIY Breakfast from foods provided
9:30am-12:30pm Morning Session (3 hours)
12:30-2:30pm Lunch
2:30-5:30pm Afternoon Session (3 hours)
5:45- 7:00pm Dinner Prep / Free Time
7:00-8:00pm Dinner
8:00-9:00pm Dinner Clean / Free Time
Day 4, Sunday 9/20:
DIY Breakfast from foods provided
9:30am-1:00pm Morning Session (3.5 hours)
1:00-3:00pm Lunch & Departure
Who is it for?
All vocal explorers: the curious, the enthusiasts and the seasoned professionals. If you’re an actor, you will find vocal power, unlock emotional expansiveness, and find nuance for detailed character studies. Singers will transcend labels, traveling into new, vocal territory. And if you’re simply curious? You will be introduced to the expansiveness of the human voice — your human voice. Have a question about if this is for you? Reach out!
All are welcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear?
Dress to move – workout-type movement clothing.
What should I bring?
Bring a journal/notebook and a water bottle.
Optional: a short text or song you would like to explore–poetry, song, personal writing.
Do I need to be an experienced singer/performer?
Not at all! We welcome everyone.
What is the Roy Hart Voice Centre approach to voice work?
From the website, https://centreroyhart.org:
“The Roy Hart Voice Centre welcomes artists, students, educators, and curious souls from all over the world, who come to find unique approaches to voice, body, movement, and psychology, applicable not only in the performing arts but also in everyday life. The work at the Centre is based on a history of almost 100 years of research, study and practice of the human voice without boundaries.”
Anything else I should know?
Please let us know if you have any physical limitations or other concerns, we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
MARYA
“So many seeds planted – I feel stirred and vibrated and stretched and inspired.”
“This workshop was a game changer for me and my pedagogy, and I have already seen huge changes rippling through my work. Thank you to all for creating such a supportive and creative space!”
“Roy Hart voice work with Marya nurtures our souls, soothes our edges, and awakens our hearts to beauty!”
“I felt very safe in the workshop and really surprised myself with powerful sounds I didn’t know I had – a whole new sense of empowerment for me.”
“Thank you so much for a thrilling, grounding, moving weekend. I feel personally and professionally reinvigorated, excited to sound and sing and teach, and authentically express the darkest and the lightest in me.”
PHIL
“Amazing! Everyone felt extremely comfortable with Phil and trusting of him. His respect for the work is contagious, and best of all, the “work” was fun!”
“Phil creates an excellent working environment – serious and nurturing with a sense of humor.”
“I felt safe to test my limits and expand my boundaries.”
“I never realized the vocal power I have.”
PHIL + MARYA TOGETHER
“Totally loved the work.”
“More please!”
About the Instructors
Marya Lowry is a Boston-based actor and voice trainer. With over four decades teaching and acting professionally, Marya has taught actors, singers, teachers, on-air journalists and public speakers across Europe, including, France, Greece, Cyprus, Germany, Netherlands, and Switzerland, as well as in the UK, Canada and the U.S. Marya’s teaching practice highlights an approach to voice that is deeply influenced by France-based Roy Hart Voice Centre’s extended vocal range methodologies and non-western vocal practices applied to traditional Anglo-American voice training. Based in solid research of vocal lamentation and keening practices around the globe, she pioneered its inclusion into theatre voice training and is the creator of “Unboundaried Voice – from Laughter to Lament” for theatre research, performance, and personal or professional use.
Marya creates a positive environment where everyone is seen, heard and respected. She fashions a festive space for personal research and growth, where surprises, delights and deep joy can emerge within the community. An award-winning actor, her theatre performances include classics, experimental, original creative works, and featured narration for the Boston Pops, Handel & Hayden Society, and the New England Conservatory. She is a founding member/resident actor Emerita with Boston’s Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Professor Emerita at Brandeis University, and a certified Roy Hart Centre Voice Teacher. Vocal Coaching for theatre includes Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Shakespeare Festivals around the country. She toured Bulgaria with DIVI ZHENI singing traditional Bulgarian music at festivals throughout the country. Marya is a mentor to incarcerated women since 2002.
https://roy-hart-theatre.com/teachers/marya-lowry/
https://www.actorsshakespeareproject.org/resident-acting-co/
Phil Timberlake is a Chicago-based theatre artist who has been teaching and exploring voice work for over 25 years. He most recently served as the Head of Voice and Speech at the Theatre School, DePaul University. He is an Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework and holds a Diploma as a Roy Hart Voice Centre Teacher, where he was a Fulbright Fellow. Voice and dialect coaching credits include the Goodman Theatre, Victory Gardens, American Players Theatre, and First Folio Theatre. Phil is an ensemble member of Lifeline Theatre in Chicago where he has received four Non-Equity Jeff Nominations for his performances. His adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma for Lifeline also received two Jeff Nominations. He is a member of VASTA (Voice and Speech Trainers Association) and SAG-AFTRA.
@timberlakephil
Registration
Program Costs
By offering a variety of housing options, and two free BIPOC spots, we hope to make this retreat financially accessible to all! Beyond that, please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need financial assistance to attend: contact@wildheartcenter.art
These prices are all inclusive! You receive all retreat content and facilitation, housing, food and drinks, and access to the land, lake, and studio spaces.
$840 Single-occupancy (private room in a shared house)
$720 Double-occupancy bedroom (per person)
$675 Dorm (for a bed in our spacious 5 person dorm)
$630 Camping (bring your own tent and equipment)
$540 Commuter (meals included)
$480 Commuter (meals not included)
$999 Support Price (for those who can pay extra to help us build the dream!)
Early Bird Price: $50 off before August 1
Refund policy
- In advance of 2 weeks – full refund (less processing fee)
- Within 2 weeks – no refund
(This policy stands even in case of sickness so we encourage participants to plan accordingly)
Illness policy
To protect the group, please don’t come if you have any symptoms of any kind of illness.
BIPOC spots
We are offering 2 free spots for BIPOC folx. Please follow the registration process and select BIPOC spot from the drop down. If you do not see this option it means the spots have been filled. To get on the BIPOC spot waitlist, please email contact@wildheartcenter.art
Location
WildHeart is located on 46+ beautiful acres in the Hudson Valley. Retreatants will have the option to stay in a single room, double room, dorm, or camping in either our main retreat center or in private two-bedroom cabins. All options have access to shared kitchens and bathrooms. Daily events will take place in the studio, shared common spaces, and outdoors. Retreatants are welcome to enjoy the lawns, walk in the forest, and swim and boat in the lake during their stay! More info about directions and transportation options HERE.
A Note on Food
We pour a lot of love into every aspect of our food system, and pride ourselves on being able to accommodate a wide range of dietary needs. We serve meat and dairy daily, and always have vegan and gluten-free options available. If you send us your dietary preferences in advance, we will do our best to make sure there is good food for you at each meal! All living accommodations have access to a full kitchen (separate from the main/commercial kitchen). We will provide breakfast groceries for you to prepare and eat on your own. Lunches and dinners are communal shared meals with participants helping 1 hour per day either with meal prep or clean. Drinks include: coffee and tea, dairy and non-dairy milk, lemon and lime juice for water, red and white wine.