Kari Ragan is an internationally recognized voice pedagogue, author, Singing Voice Specialist, and soprano with a career spanning more than four decades. She is known for her commitment to applying voice science in service of artistic expression—a guiding principle that has shaped her work with singers across genres and career stages. In 2012, Dr. Ragan received the Van L. Lawrence Fellowship, with her research focusing on the efficacy of vocal cool-down exercises for singers—work that continues to inform pedagogical conversations in both clinical and studio settings.

Dr. Ragan earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Washington in 2005, and both a Master and Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the renowned Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Her achievements have been recognized with numerous additional honors, including the NATS Foundation Pedagogy Award in 2009, the New York Singing Teachers Association Distinguished Voice Professional Certificate in 2010, and the Wicklund Singing Voice Specialist Certificate in 2011. In 2021, she was named a Master Teacher for the NATS Intern Program and in 2025, she was invited to join the American Academy of Teachers of Singing.

From 2010 to 2021, Dr. Ragan served on the voice faculty at the University of Washington, where she taught applied voice, vocal pedagogy, Italian diction, and French art song literature. She also served on the advisory board for the development of the Musical Theatre degree program in collaboration with the Drama and Dance Departments.

Dr. Ragan works in affiliation with the University of Washington’s laryngology program as a Singing Voice Specialist (SVS), collaborating with a multidisciplinary voice team to support singers recovering from vocal injury or pathology. In addition to her work at UW, she partners with voice clinics throughout Seattle and across the country, contributing her expertise to the rehabilitation of injured voices.

Her published work appears in the Journal of Singing and the Journal of Voice, and in 2020, Plural Publishing released her book, A Systematic Approach to Voice: The Art of Studio Application, a highly regarded resource for teachers and singers alike.

For over forty-years, Dr. Ragan has maintained a vibrant independent voice studio. While her primary training and early career focused on classical singing, additional training and professional development have enabled her to specialize in cross-training singers in a wide range of genres including musical theatre, pop, rock, R&B, jazz, Indian classical, and more.

Her students perform with opera companies across the United States, in major musical theatre productions and national Broadway tours, and as independent recording and performing artists. Many have achieved recognition at the highest levels of national competitions, including NATSAA and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Dr. Ragan is an active presenter and educator, frequently invited to give workshops and lectures for voice organizations and academic institutions nationally and internationally. She has presented for NATS, the Pan American Vocology Association (PAVA), The Voice Foundation, the International Congress of Voice Teachers (ICVT), and many others.

In addition to her role as an educator and researcher, she is the co-founder and organizer of the Northwest Voice: The Art and Science of the Performing Voice Conference, a multidisciplinary event held annually in Seattle since 2006. She is a charter member of PAVA, a founding member of the Northwest Chapter of The Voice Foundation, served as Chair of the NATS Advancement Committee from 2017 to 2024, and on the NATS Foundation Board.

Dr. Ragan was invited voice faculty of the St. Andrews Vocal Pedagogy Summer Course in Scotland for 2024 and at Oklahoma City University’s Summer Vocal Pedagogy and Vocal Intensive in 2025. She was honored to serve as the Program Chair for the 2025 International Congress of Voice Teachers (ICVT) in Toronto as well an invited to give a plenary session.

Since 2011, Dr. Ragan has also served as the moderator of the popular NATS Chat series, hosting monthly online conversations with experts in the field of voice. These sessions are free and open to the public, and archived on the NATS website and official YouTube channel.

Through this work—as well as her writing, research, teaching, and advocacy—Dr. Ragan continues to advance the field of voice pedagogy with insight, generosity, and a deep respect for both the art and science of singing.