2026 VASTA Conference: Changemakers 40
Dates: 14 – 18 October, 2026
In commemoration of VASTA’s 40th anniversary, our 2026 conference will honor the voice methodologies and traditions that have stood the test of time, celebrate present-day innovations that address the evolving needs of voice and speech trainers, and envision futures that chart new paths for our field. Under the theme Changemakers 40, we will gather to reflect, reimagine, and shape what comes next — together.
Regardless of what voice area(s), Arts, Business, Education, or Health, you locate yourself within as a voice trainer, we invite sessions of all interests which encourage attendees to learn from the past, stand in the present, and look to the future. The Greater Los Angeles Area (GLA) is globally recognized as a major creative hub. For decades, artists of all disciplines and backgrounds, including voice users and voice practitioners, have flocked to this area to walk in the footsteps of beloved predecessors and traverse uncharted creative territory to make their own mark. As we bring vocal traditions and methodologies throughout time into focus, there is no greater place to do so than the region which is home to prolific and timeless institutions which reveal past contributions, present potential, and future promise.
Head for the hills with us for our retreat-style conference at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Right on campus you can find several attractions including a rose garden, japanese gardens, and a rainforest learning center home to hundreds of plant species. Venturing out into the city of Pomona, you will find an abundance of record shops, antique stores, art galleries like the 3rd Street Gallery and music venues such as The Glass House and The Fox Theatre. Delight in the hidden gems of Pomona’s culinary scene from Mexican street food to pho. If you find yourself curious about the landmark sites of Greater Los Angeles, the university is not far from downtown Los Angeles. There, you will find attractions like Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood Bowl, the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, and Universal Studios Hollywood. Whether you choose to venture out into the city or relax under the palms of Pomona, the many ways of experiencing Greater Los Angeles’ culture, cuisine, retail, and entertainment are all within reach.
We invite submissions for proposals which concern themselves with three focal points of the theme, “Changemakers 40”:
The Future: What are we not tending to which could shape our future as a field (gaps in knowledge)? How do you envision the future of voice and speech work, and what needs to change to move us towards this vision? What phenomena are on the horizon which you believe has the potential to shift our current ways of thinking and doing surrounding voice practices?
The Past: What are tried and true practices in your work as a practitioner? Who has significantly shaped your practice either directly or indirectly? What parts of voice and speech history should be considered as we move forward as a field?
The Present: What are the current challenges or trends of voice and speech work that we should all be paying attention to? What are you utilizing in your practice that considers present day demands put on voice users? How have the styles and aesthetics of voice evolved and what modern factors continue to influence these shifts?
Changemakers 40:
The 2026 VASTA Conference
Dates: 14 – 18 October, 2026