Lauren Lee Innis-Youren

Vocal Coach - Forest Hill & Online

Lauren Lee is a celebrated performer, singing teacher, and mentor, with almost 20 years of teaching and performance experience across various art forms including dance, musical theatre, and opera.  

Beginning her life in the ballet world as a dancer and teacher, Lauren developed a patient and nurturing teaching style within the disciplined and often harsh world of ballet.  She began to share her love of musical theatre with her ballet students, eventually creating a class of her own combining her passions of dance and music.  The class was such a hit that many of her original students are still performing in or enjoying musical theatre to this day.

After landing a dance role with Opera Queensland at the age of 17, Lauren was inspired to leave the world of ballet behind and pursue classical voice.  Her subsequent roles include  Lilli Vanessi in ‘Kiss Me, Kate’, Eliza Doolittle in ‘My Fair Lady’, and Christine Daaé in ‘the Phantom of the Opera’, as well as originating the role of Janette Burns in ‘Billy Buckett: A Rock n Roll Love Story’ in 2013, and the anniversary revival production 5 years later.

Lauren’s experience in children’s theatre touring productions eventually led her back to teaching in 2020, teaching early childhood music classes, and moving into private singing lessons in 2021.  Her diverse background and working history has shaped her teaching style and values so that her goal is to ensure her students feel safe, supported, and seen in her classes, no matter what their age or skill level.  Her studio is a safe and inclusive space for all singers.

With a background in cabaret and concert writing, curation and performance, children’s theatre, television, Fringe festivals, opera and theatre, Lauren’s students can benefit from her wide range of  experiences as they build their own, with many of her students going on to achieve awards and acclaim in eisteddfods, school productions, community and professional theatre.  She has coached AMEB Musical Theatre, Singing for Leisure, and Rockschool Exams, as well as VCE Music, and while Lauren is always proud of her students and the work they put in regardless of their exam result, her students are always happy when they get their marks back!

Still regularly engaged as a soloist and as one half of the classical-crossover duo Swellegant, Lauren Lee’s love for performance, singing, and sharing the joy of music is infectious.  While her own specialisation lies with musical theatre and classical voice, one of the first questions she asks of her students is to share with her  their own joy in music, what makes them light up.  She is able to coach and teach across many styles, working within the interests of the student, while also helping to guide their choices to create long-lasting, healthy vocal habits.