214 | Navigating Chronic Illness & Vocal Injury with Hannah May
Illness and vocal health challenges touch every voice professional, in our own lives or in the lives of our students. Tasmanian-born singer, songwriter, and voice teacher Hannah May shares her journey through chronic illness and recovery from vocal injury and how that experience transformed the way she holds space for her students and sets clear, compassionate boundaries in her studio. In Episode 214, we explore a story of resilience, perspective, and a powerful redefinition of sustainable singing.
🔹[4:12] Tasmania (Lutruwita)
🔹[14:13] the impact of voice injury in your life
🔹[15:30] Navigating a voice injury diagnosis
🔹[19:04] Endometriosis and adenomyosis diagnosis
🔹[29:00] The priority of rest and health
🔹[33:00] Sharing information about vocal injury with students
🔹[35:00] My vocal health support team
🔹[47:05] How I use a student feedback form
🔹[52:00] Find your support team in your health journey
🔹[55:00] Songwriting tools and coaching
⭐ I’m currently developing a series of tools to support singers/songwriters, set to launch in mid-2026. To stay updated and learn more, follow the studio on Instagram @hm.voicestudio
About Our Guest:
Hannah May is a Tasmania/Lutruwita-born singer, songwriter, pianist, and vocal coach with over 20 years of experience in singing, performance, and songwriting. Known for her soulful, genre-blending sound she has performed on iconic stages including the Sydney Opera House, major festivals, and alongside ARIA-winning artists such as Monique Brumby, Clare Bowditch, The Audreys, Wes Carr, and Damon Albarn (UK).
Hannah has over 15 years of experience in various pedagogical environments and in 2020, established HM Voice Studio (offering in-person and online coaching), helping singers and songwriters at every stage of their journey develop authentic, confident voices through expert technique and individualised, empathetic support.
Hannah’s journey has also been shaped by personal challenges. After being diagnosed with endometriosis and experiencing a voice injury, she gained a deep understanding of the voice’s physical and emotional demands. These experiences have fuelled her passion for holistic vocal health, resilience, and empowerment for herself and everyone that she works with.
website: https://www.hannahmaymusic.com.au/
instagram: @hannahmaymusic
