Lisa’s approach to the voice work equally balances structure, rigor, and physiology with a sense of freedom, imagination, and play, making the work feel easily accessible and applicable - Allison Beauregard, actor
Nell was a very intense and layered character and the detail, depth, and focus that you brought to the work was wonderful to witness. I think a lot about how lucky the acting students at Carnegie-Mellon are to have you. - Jim McCay, American Rust Season 2 Showrunner
Velten Smith is an Assistant Professor of Voice at Carnegie Mellon University and a Designated Linklater Teacher. She began her teaching career at The University of California, San Diego (Excellence in Teaching 2003 and 2004) and it was there that she began her deep interest in voice work by assisting prominent Voice Professor Ursula Meyer. Velten Smith went on to teach at notable institutions Middlebury College, Point Park University, and The University of Pittsburgh. She has taught classes in Acting (intro and advanced), Shakespeare, Public Speaking, The Creative Process, Voice (intro and advanced), Audition for the Camera, The Business of Acting and Hip Hop Rap/Spoken Word, an 8-week course focused on the history and appreciation of the art form in collaboration with Pittsburgh Rap Artist, Treble NLS.
She has worked with the late Master Voice Teachers Cicely Berry and Kristin Linklater with whom she received her Designation in 2017. In 2021, she added to her repertoire and became a Lessac Practitioner.
Velten Smith has coached voice and dialects for numerous Carnegie Mellon School of Drama productions and maintains a career in coaching professional actors as well as clients from outside the industry.
With an interest in vocal and mental health, Velten Smith developed The Resilient Voice; a workshop that combines the science of meditation with vocal exercises. She is trained in Intimacy Education and is committed to social and environmental justice.
Member of AEA, SAG/AFTRA, and The Voice and Speech Trainers Association.
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2023 Award for Excellence in Teaching by the School of Drama Student Body
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2023 Provost Inclusive Teaching Fellow
Service
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Work
June of 2021 created A.R.T.S.C, anti-racist teaching and support coalition with fellow colleague Sartje Picket. Designed to support those in the institutional setting in reducing harm. In its first year, ARTSC worked towards the de-colonization of syllabi, engaged with the Eberly Center to develop an anti-bias, anti-racist workshop tailored to the needs of the school of drama, brought in Tiffany Rachelle Stewart & Tyler Rivenbark of The Listening, and worked as a subcommittee to support the School of Drama’s D.E.I organization. A.R.T.S.C is in continual development always focused on how we can do better.
“Building Resiliency: listening, assessing and responding to the self’s needs”
In November of 2020, two workshops developed in response to a very turbulent period. Students, faculty, and staff were encouraged to cultivate the capacity to find balance, growth, and inspiration through yoga and various voice modalities. Developed in collaboration with Nicole Winston Stewart of Blue Nile Yoga and fellow colleague, Ausar Stewart.
Associate Area Chair, Acting/MT 2022-Present Co-Chair Season Selection Committee 2021-2024
Linklater Interim Teacher Training Committee
In 2023, as chair for the sub committee “Election/Governance” gave a presentation to the international cohort of Designated Linklater Teachers on ways to organize their membership based on research and interviews. Read the proposal
Research & Projects
The Voice Warm-Ups
A series of three videos professionally shot in Middlebury VT, designed for the public’s use. Great for actors, public speakers, teachers, and anyone interested in strengthening their voice, body, and minds.
Linklater Card Deck
A series of illustrated cards to help the learner better grasp the Linklater Progression. The cards are designed to provide access to different learning modalities while additionally offering a wide range of body representation.
Sample 1. Illustrations by Rachel Popisili
Sample 2. Illustrations by Rachel Popisili
The Resilient Voice
A methodology that teaches specific vocal and physical exercises found to reduce feelings of anxiety and stress. While similar to meditation and yoga, The Resilient Voice can be done in any location and in any position. This is a continual scholarship developing from its initial offering to students at Hartford University in July of 2018. Stay tuned for upcoming workshops.