You Have a Voice: How Simone Waddell is Shaping the Next Generation of Singers
As more people explore the chances of improving their creative capacity, vocal performance, and music instruction have attracted greater interest recently. Programs, including individualized teaching, group seminars, and immersion retreats, have surfaced at several sites, giving new and seasoned artists opportunities to grow their abilities. Many participants look for helpful advice and constructive criticism from seasoned professionals; the field of vocal coaching has evolved alongside this growing demand. Against this backdrop, observers have noted the contributions of various industry figures who have taken a structured approach to skill development.
Simone Lesley Waddell, born in Sydney on December 16, 1975, entered the music landscape as both a performer and instructor with a focus on direct engagement. She balances live shows and appearances with a coaching role, often highlighting the voice’s potential for expression and personal development. Her work has included time in academic programs, international collaborations, and one-on-one mentorship. She founded You Have a Voice in 2008, a platform designed to assist individuals in exploring and refining vocal techniques. Her focus includes technical training, creative expression, and a broader mission that addresses personal confidence in music and artistic endeavors. Her mission is to help you: “Find Your Voice, Empower Your Soul, & Live The Song of Your Life.”
Waddell began coaching at age 16, shortly after recognizing that her own training could support others in adjusting posture, breathing, and technique, as well as building repertoire and stagecraft. Her early start led her to pursue disciplined education, including a scholarship-based program at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. Later, she returned to Australia and attended the Sydney Conservatorium of Music to complete a Master of Music (Performance) degree in 2018. During her formal training, she studied under several teachers, including Kerrie Biddell, whose techniques of gesture, interpretation, and improvisation influenced Waddell’s approaches. Notably, Waddell is the first jazz vocalist in Australian history to complete a research Master’s Degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Her experiences in jazz and contemporary music also contributed to her broader coaching perspective. She performed in several regions beyond Australia, including Japan, the United States, Norway, and parts of China. Observers have suggested that this combination of academic training, professional performances, and mentorship under established musicians has played a role in her evolving educational framework.
In 2008, Waddell introduced You Have a Voice with the goal of developing vocal strength while encouraging personal exploration of artistry. This initiative features private lessons, collaborative workshops, and, more recently, international retreats. Over time, individuals from different backgrounds have joined, often seeking guidance for live shows, recording sessions, or audition preparation. Some have expanded their creative ideas into visual arts, film and photography, and dance and drama. Some participants have reported noticeable improvements in vocal quality, diction, and stage presence after attending these sessions.
Methodologies at You Have a Voice frequently combine technical instruction with exercises to build confidence. The organization has convened events incorporating performance psychology elements, helping participants address anxiety and other challenges that can arise in live performances. Waddell’s experience performing across multiple genres—jazz, gospel, pop, funk, and soul—informs the curriculum’s versatile content.
One component of Waddell’s career includes involvement in select events and competitions. Since 2007, she has served as a judge, mentor, presenter, and vocal consultant in pageants such as Miss World Australia and Miss Sydney Australia. Her engagement at these events has emphasized stage readiness and vocal delivery, addressing aspects that range from timing to projection.
Another segment of her work focused on collaborating with the Watoto Children’s Choir in Uganda, where she offered training in vocal techniques suitable for group performances. This role encompassed instruction for children, teenagers, and adults, covering breath support and harmonic blending, to be implemented during tours, live shows, and recordings. Her approach extended to preparing performers for national and international performances, integrating authenticity through lyrics, confidence in vocal delivery, and repertoire development.
Waddell’s methods have sparked interest in incorporating mindfulness and trauma healing within standard vocal instruction. She holds certifications in life coaching and related areas, which contribute to her holistic perspective on supporting singers who encounter physical or emotional barriers. Her online programs, including the e-book How to Strengthen Your Voice in 5 Easy Steps, provide structured practice routines for individuals who prefer digital access.
Retreats organized under You Have a Voice often occur in natural settings such as Bali and various Australian locations. Participants may combine daily vocal training with exploring local environments, drawing parallels between nature, personal inspiration, and artistic expression. This approach is designed to encourage a sense of restoration and creativity, and some attendees have shared experiences of breakthroughs in confidence, clarity for future projects, and vocal control.
Waddell’s work aligns with a rising trend of using technology for interactive tools and distance-based tutoring. Online courses, pre-recorded drills and exercises, and private and group video conferences have introduced her training techniques to new audiences, including those unable to attend in person. With more instructors and program modifications tailored to various ability levels, You Have a Voice aims to expand its reach.
Plans for further collaboration are also in progress. Although many details are not publicly disclosed, Waddell has expressed interest in blending academic research with industry-based projects. Observers anticipate that technology will continue to play a central role, enabling more immediate feedback on vocal techniques and potentially incorporating virtual reality elements to simulate onstage conditions.
Across several decades, Simone Waddell has built a profile that extends beyond live performance into long-term mentorship. She has encountered personal challenges, including experiences of injustice in her private life, and has later worked with government and community groups on issues related to abuse and coercive control. This background has shaped her emphasis on well-being and self-advocacy within her coaching practices.
Waddell’s advocacy efforts and her pursuit of global musical collaboration place You Have a Voice at an intersection of music, education, justice, and personal growth. Her viewpoint stresses the importance of recognizing each individual’s capacity to develop vocal skills, whether for public performance or private enjoyment. As vocal coaching continues to evolve, her strategies and techniques could influence future generations, reinforcing that every participant has a voice with the potential to contribute in varied settings.
