About

Philosophy

The human voice is an incredibly personal instrument. Our voices reflect our personalities, feelings, and lived experience. When our voices don’t reflect our inner selves, we can learn to hide, mistrust, or even give up on being heard altogether. At Unlock Voice Studio, we believe every person deserves a voice that represents and affirms their authentic self.

We believe every student has what they need to unlock their voice’s full potential. They don’t need an instructor to “fix” them or craft them into a flawless, emotionless vocal machine. They need a collaborator and a guide; someone who will work with them to find their true voice, and empower them with tools to nurture it.

Erin Carney has worked as a private voice instructor for over a decade. She has taught over 200 students ranging from age 5 to 75. She has a passion for working with people who are often overlooked in clinical, educational, and performance spaces, especially transgender, BIPOC, neurodivergent, and retirement-aged clients. 

Erin graduated from Northwestern University in 2014 with a degree in vocal performance. Since then, she has worked at several Chicago teaching institutions, most notably UpBeat Music and Arts and The Voice Lab. Erin has also been performing professionally since graduation, most notably with the choir Stare at the Sun, but also in musicals, plays and films in the Chicago area and beyond. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in speech language pathology.

Erin lives in Chicago with her fiancé Brian and their two cats, Harlem and Jaskier.