MEET LORI
Owner, Voice Specialist, Therapist, and Speaker
Lori L. Sonnenberg is a Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, Clinical Voice Specialist, and Singing Voice Specialist. In her clinical work, she combines her passion for treating injured voices with her extensive background as a singer and voice teacher. As a voice teacher she uses her unique background to help singers of all ages, styles and genres overcome vocal difficulties and develop the voice to its full potential. She has achieved remarkable results in working with her own students and patients as well as in assisting some of the country’s most respected voice teachers and clinicians. This blend of talents and skills makes Ms. Sonnenberg a formidable asset to the clinical and singing voice worlds.
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In her voice clinic, Ms. Sonnenberg works exclusively with voice and breathing disorders and specializes in muscle tension dysphonia related disorders, recovery from voice injuries, professional voice care and support, post-operative voice recovery, and problematic technical voice issues for singers. After a successful and rewarding career as a team member at a busy voice center and laryngology practice, she is now the Owner and CEO of Lori L. Sonnenberg, Ltd. As a voice educator and professional speaker, Ms. Sonnenberg is a frequent guest lecturer and clinician for music schools, vocal departments and professional organizations supporting the vocal health and wellness of singers, voice teachers and music/choral educators. She lectures at the state, local, regional and national levels with a special focus on helping vocalists and educators manage their busy vocal lifestyles. She has developed a highly successful method for helping her patients and students detect and prevent vocal injuries with long-term results.
Ms. Sonnenberg is a certified member of the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) holding the Certificate of Clinical Competency (CCC-SLP) and is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and The Voice Foundation. She is a former Speech and Voice Pathologist with Bastian Voice Institute in Downers Grove, IL, and has been teaching private voice since 1998.
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Education
Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Centenary College of Louisiana 1998.
Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from The Pennsylvania State University 2000.
Master of Arts in Speech Pathology and Communication Sciences from The University of North Carolina Greensboro 2005
MEET Sarah
Voice Specialist, Researcher, and Speaker
Sarah McDowell is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and Singing Voice Specialist. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of North Texas in 2018. Sarah further honed her expertise by becoming a vocologist through the prestigious Summer Vocology Institute in 2021, which sparked her deep interest in voice rehabilitation and the care of professional voice users.
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Sarah went on to earn a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2023, where she received specialized training in voice and upper airway disorders at the UT Southwestern Voice Center. During her time at UT Dallas, she contributed to multiple research projects at the UT Integrative Laryngeal Biophysiology Lab, focusing on supraglottic laryngeal configuration patterns and extrinsic laryngeal movement. She has presented her work on these topics at state and national conferences.
In 2024, Sarah completed her clinical fellowship at the University of Utah Voice Disorders Center, where she specialized in voice, upper airway, and swallowing disorders. She continues to work as a per diem therapist at the University of Utah Voice Disorders Center and serves as a Research Associate with the Voice, Airway, Swallowing Translational Research (VAST) Lab.
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Outside of her professional work, Sarah enjoys rock climbing and spending time outdoors with her dog, Winnie the Poodle.
Education
Master of Science in Communication Disorders, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 2023.
Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders, Utah State University, Logan, UT 2021.
Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 2017.
MEET Natalie
Voice Specialist, Therapist, and Speaker
Natalie Sheppard is a Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, Clinical Voice Specialist, and Singing Voice Specialist with a deep passion for working with singers to create highly individualized and personalized programs for recovery and long-term vocal health. She completed her clinical fellowship in voice and upper airway disorders at the renowned Blaine Block Institute of Voice Analysis and Rehabilitation (BBIVAR) and the Professional Voice Center of Greater Cincinnati (ProVoice Center), where she gained extensive experience and specialized training in evaluating and treating voice disorders, particularly in vocal performers.
Natalie has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating a wide range of voice disorders, including muscle tension dysphonia, benign vocal fold lesions, as well as acute and chronic vocal injuries. She also specializes in pre- and post-surgical voice rehabilitation, guiding singers and professional voice users through tailored therapy to restore strength, flexibility, and endurance. With a focus on efficiency, sustainability, and long-term vocal wellness, she helps performers build healthy, resilient voices that support both their artistry and career longevity.
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During her time at the University of Colorado, she pioneered the first collaboration between the university’s voice clinic and music school, offering educational presentations and providing baseline videolaryngeal stroboscopy for singers—an essential evaluation tool she actively advocates for in supporting vocal athletes.
In recognition of her dedication to leadership and advocacy in the field of voice pathology, Natalie was awarded The Distinguished Early Career Professional Certificate in 2024by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Her passion for destigmatizing vocal health within the performing arts drives her work, as she strives to normalize conversations around vocal care and injury prevention. She currently collaborates with performing arts venues, theater companies, and nationally recognized music conservatories, providing education, outreach, and specialized voice care for artists at all levels.
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A strong suit of Natalie’s practice is her counseling skills and deep understanding of the unique demands of performing artists. Having maintained a performing schedule herself, she connects meaningfully with her clients, offering both professional guidance and emotional support. Committed to fostering strong relationships within the professional voice care community, she collaborates with singing voice specialists nationwide to ensure continuity of care and access to the highest level of vocal health and wellness.
Natalie is currently based in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she continues her work at BBIVAR and ProVoice Center. She is thrilled to join the Sonnenberg Voice team, expanding her network and expertise to serve even more singers and voice professionals throughout the Midwest—including Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and the Chicago area. Natalie continues to perform professionally, most recently Cincinnati Opera.
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Outside of her professional endeavors, Natalie enjoys spending time with her French Bulldog, Igor, traveling, and staying active with barre, Pilates, and weightlifting."
Education
Master of Arts, Speech-Language Pathology. University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 2023.
Master of Music, Vocal Arts; Emphasis: Performance, Vocology, & Vocal Pedagogy. University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 2021.
Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance; Minor: International Human Rights. University of Cincinnati – College Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, OH 2019.