Dr. Jamea J. Sale, PhD, is the Executive Associate Director of the Choral Foundation and serves as the Director of the Institute for Healthy Singing and Voice Research.

A native of Colby, Kansas, Dr. Sale has a rich academic background, earning her Bachelor of Music Education in K-12 Vocal and Instrumental Music from Kansas State University in 1987. In 2012 she completed her Master of Music Education in Vocal/Choral Pedagogy at the University of Kansas in Lawrence and her Music Education PhD Vocal/Choral Pedagogy and Research Design from the same institution in 2022.

Dr. Sale's research is dedicated to the developing voice of the female adolescent singer. She is actively involved in a longitudinal examination of the progression of voice change in adolescent females, a collaborative study between the Institute for Healthy Singing & Voice Research, Allegro Choirs of Kansas City, the Zhuhai Classical Children’s Chorus, and Dr. Melissa Grady of the University of Kansas. The ongoing study documents the vocal development of 100 young female singers over 9 months. She is also examining the development of natural vibrato among female adolescent singers and working to validate a tool to track the development of the female adolescent voice during voice change.

Dr. Sale has been an integral part of the music community. She has been a member and soloist with the William Baker Festival Singers and the Summer Singers of Kansas City since 2002. Her roles have evolved over the years, from Student Intern to Choral Assistant, Education Director for the Institute for Healthy Singing in 2016, Executive Associate Music Director for the Choral Foundation in 2017, and Director of the Institute for Healthy Singing and Voice Research (IHS&VR) in 2018. Jamea received the 2024 Arts Advocate Award from The Arts Council of Johnson County, a recognition given to individuals who have dedicated significant time, effort, and leadership, leading to a positive impact on the creative economy and the arts in Johnson County, Kansas.

In March of 2023, Dr. Sale extended her outreach efforts to Kapkemich, Kenya, where she contributed to developing music education programs in local schools. Sale and Fellows of the IHS&VR continue the work in Kenya through annual music instrument drives and bi-annual visits to Kenya.

With a certification in Preschool Musikgarten Education, Dr. Sale led experiential music programs for parents and toddlers for five years. She served as Assistant Choral Director and Vocal Coach at St. James Academy High School in Lenexa, Kansas, and worked in the Olathe School District as a long-term substitute in vocal music. She served as Voice Specialist for AllegroKC.org from 2012-2020.

Dr. Sale extended her expertise to the community upon establishing JameaSale.com in 2011. At her private music studio, she focuses on promoting the healthy use of the voice through developmentally appropriate training for singers and speakers of all ages. Jamea finds her work with singers needing assistance with vocal recovery most gratifying.

In 2023, Dr. Sale forged a collaboration between the Institute for Healthy Singing and Voice Research and the voice specialists at Ascentist Healthcare to focus on preventative voice care and assist those in vocal recovery. Together, they serve people suffering from hoarseness, tension, limited range, and other health issues affecting the singing voice and advocate for lifespan-healthy vocal practices,

Dr. Sale is a member of many professional organizations, including the American Choral Director’s Association, The Voice Foundation, the International Society of Music Education, the Pan-American Vocology Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

Contact Dr. Sale at JSale@HealthySinging.org

Curriculum Vitae

PUBLICATIONS:

Steps Toward Validation of the Female Adolescent Voice Change Singing Status Index: ProQuest International

“Is Something Wrong With My Daughter’s Voice?” Parental Perceptions of the Female Adolescent Voice Change: International Journal of Research in Choral Singing

ChoralEd YouTube Channel. Episode 31: The Female Changing Voice.

Singing Through Menopause: ChoralNet & Developing Voices Blogs

The Voice of the Very Young Child (birth to 5 years) Part 1: ChoralNet & Developing Voices Blogs

The Voice of the Very Young Child (birth to 5 years) Part 2: ChoralNet & Developing Voices Blogs

AWARDS:

2024 Johnson County Arts Advocate Award