My Story

Felix Graham, Ed.D.C.T., is a New York-based, trans academic and musician. With over ten years of experience as a singing-voice specialist, Dr. Graham's pedagogy focuses on guiding both cis and trans clients in reconciling their voice and personal identity as well as addressing functional voice disorders.

It was a rainy Sunday in October, 2006. I was in my 20's, an emerging professional soprano, and I was at a recording studio to create a demo for the upcoming audition season. For the past few weeks, something had been a little…off about my voice. I’d talked to my teacher, my coach and my accompanist – no one heard anything wrong…they told me it sounded better than ever, in fact. I wasn't convinced, but I was there to sing anyway. I was uncomfortable because I still felt something was wrong with my voice but I’d paid a lot of money for the session and I couldn't cancel now.

We started to record and…it wasn't good. I got through the first part of an aria, but then there was this spine-tingling moment where the line rises, climaxing in a huge, emotional high note. I took a breath, open my mouth for the high B…and my voice cracked.

I stopped and tried again.

That time, nothing out at all.

I left the studio, feeling like my world was unraveling. I was eventually diagnosed with a voice disorder, my singing career was significantly derailed and the trauma of the experience affected me permanently in many ways. At the same time, that pivotal moment led me to a career in teaching, to my mentor and even, albeit in a round-about way, to my gender identity.