Meet 2025 Teacher of the Year for Voice & Pop Voice Jillian Comrie

We asked 2025 Lessonface Teacher of the Year in Voice and Pop Voice, Jillian Comrie, to share insights into her journey as a singer and educator. In this Q&A, Jillian reflects on what first drew her to singing as a deeply expressive and human instrument, how she has created a vibrant, instrument-filled teaching studio that inspires creativity, and the balance she emphasizes between technical skill and authentic self-expression. She also shares the tools and technology she relies on for interactive online lessons, discusses her excitement around songwriting and music production, and highlights the joy, confidence, and community that singing can bring to students at every stage of life.
 

What drew you to learning about voice and pop voice?

I was always drawn to singing as the most expressive and human instrument and I think most people feel the same way. Something about the vulnerability and relatability of the human voice in combination with music touches us all on a deep level. I started singing and performing in concerts at my school when I was young and have been singing ever since! It’s a privilege to impart my passion for singing to my students now and help them communicate with their own unique voice.

How would you describe your teaching studio? 

It was a blast to set up my teaching studio, since I was able to include two pianos, an electric and acoustic, in my space. I had to find a mini piano to get it up the stairs of my apartment, but it was well worth it! I surround my pianos with plants and green to make the space feel lively and inviting. I also have a growing collection of ukuleles that I use for different purposes, whether performing at a coffee shop, teaching or writing songs. I even have a rare Ecuadorian version of a ukulele! I also play the flute and have several flutes from around the world in my space. My instrument collection makes me so happy and definitely promotes creativity!

If you could gift your students one piece of automatic knowledge or ability about voice or pop voice, what would it be? 

Singing is as much about embracing and accepting our unique voices as it is about developing our musicianship. We do work very hard on the nuts and bolts of music, like melody, rhythm and dynamics, but being proficient in the technical aspects is not enough to connect to an audience. We also need to have the courage to show up as our true selves and express our music with our unique tone and style! 

What are some of your most indispensable pieces of gear? 

I teach on a MacBook Pro, but most of my screen-sharing is done from my iPad. I highly recommend using an iPad for musicians, since it has a ton of great tools and makes storing and annotating sheet music a breeze! 

Are there apps / texts / other resources you often recommend?

I also use an Audient Evo 4 interface and I love it because it allows me to actively adjust the balance between my voice and my students’ voices. This means that I can hear my own voice through my headphones, as well as my students, and we can sing and play music together simultaneously, even over Zoom! I also connect my piano to my computer through a USB cable and I find that super helpful for demonstrating difficult passages on the piano or composing on the screen with my students. 

What’s a skill or idea you’re excited to explore in 2026? How about your students?

I lead a songwriting group in my community and I’m hoping to learn more about music production to encourage the group, as well as my students, in composing and sharing their own music! 

A lot of my students have been learning two instruments from me lately and I find it really interesting and fun to help them accompany themselves on piano or ukulele. 

Anything you'd like to share about yours or their accomplishments from 2025?

It has been great to see my students getting out in the world and sharing music more this year! So many have given stellar performances in recitals and talent shows, won lead roles in their school musicals, led worship services at church, achieved the highest marks in Solo/Ensemble competitions at their school districts, and even went on tour to Europe! Personally, I’m really proud of my performances in my community with my songwriting group this year. We meet every month to share new songs we’ve written and give each other feedback. We shared a lot of our songs at community events and shows, coffee shops and a Christmas show that was a packed house! We always try to make it cozy and invite our friends and loved ones to enjoy snacks and memorable moments with us. We also lead worship nights together at our church and it’s inspiring to have a bigger purpose for our music. I think my favorite concert was when several of us were commissioned to write a song for a specific show with all kinds of artists, including painting, sculpture, dance, poetry, photography and textiles. We wrote songs on the topic of “Dreams” and it was an incredible feeling to all be creating around the same theme and sharing a purpose together!

Is there anything else you would like to share with potential students about singing?

Don’t be afraid to get started and pursue that desire to sing, even if you never had the chance before! I see singing bring people so much joy every day, even if they are beginners and are just starting to enjoy it. My oldest student is 84 and it’s amazing to see her finally pursue her lifelong dream to sing! The singing journey is all about honesty, discovery, creativity and communication and your life will be much richer if you take the time to sing.

If you are interested in learning more about Jillian or would like to book a lesson with her, please visit her Lessonface profile here. 

Also, be sure to check out all of Lessonface’s 2025 Teachers of the Year here!