My path to vocal freedom has been long and winding.

Singing has always been my love, but not always my joy.

For much of my life I would make a big operatic sound as a means of gathering praise and applause. For many years it worked, but something about it didn’t feel quite right. 

It’s no coincidence that as I grew older and continued to use that big performative sound as professional singer, I was keeping a lot of big life secrets. As a pastor’s kid from a small town, in West Michigan, being authentic in my identity did not always come easy. But, as an adult, when I started to be honest about the truth of who I was, a proud queer man, wiser guides came along and helped me find a freer, more authentic voice and a freer more authentic life!

I’ll never forget the first time I sang for Jeanie LoVetri. She said to me…

“You don’t know your voice. If you knew it, you wouldn’t push it so much.”

This cut me to the core, because... it was true! I had been pushing, making a big sound for so long because I was trying to compensate for the ways in which I felt so small and unworthy. From that moment on, I embarked upon the dangerous and exciting quest of liberating my voice.

I can say now that I’ve never been more in love with who I am and the way I sound. I can’t help but want to share this with you as your voice coach.

If you want to hear a more in depth version of my story, check out the first episode of my podcast, The Sound of You.

In addition, I’ve had the great fortune of sharing my story at various stages with New York Times Best Selling author Rob Bell on his podcast, the Rob Bell podcast.

Listening may help you get to know me even better.

I didn’t get here on my own.

I graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music with a degree in Vocal Performance and Musicology. At Oberlin I studied with famed pedagogue Richard Miller. After singing and teaching professionally for quite some time, I met Jeanie LoVetri and she changed everything for me. Using Somatic Voicework™ The LoVetri Method in which I am certified, she guided me toward the transformation of my voice and also my teaching. Principles of Somatic Voicework™ undergird all of the voice work that I do.

I also have learned myofascial release for neck, voice and swallowing disorders with Walt Fritz and have a long-term referral relationship with laryngologist, Steve Sims and SLP, Jan Potter Reed, both at UIC. Additionally, I am a Reiki level II practitioner.

I am personally committed to singing and improvisation as a healing, meditative and spiritual practice.

I have studied improvisational singing with Rhiannon and attended the Omega Institute with Bobby McFerrin and the creator of The RESET, an immersive sound healing experience that centers my voice and improvisational singing. I started Chicago Circle Singing and created VOXUS, a corporate team building experience that utilizes improvisation and the voice. I have had the good fortune of being able to offer this work for executives at Coca-Cola, teachers in Chicago Public Schools and the Mayor of Chicago.

I am a featured teacher on the Insight Timer app and have created a community there around meditation, singing and sound.

I rely heavily on improvisational singing and sound healing in performance, which I have studied through the Sage Academy for Sound Energy and continue to perform music and create immersive sound experiences all over the United States and Canada.

To learn more about my artistic, creative and sound healing work, check out davinyoungs.com

Does my story resonate with you?

If so, I hope you’ll explore how I can use my experience to support you as your voice coach on your voice journey.