Welcome to The Classical Singer’s Path

Starting the conversation about singing, growth, and connection

Hello, and welcome to The Classical Singer’s Path — a Substack created to support the work of The Voice School, powered by me, the Little Soprano.

My name is Gillian Gingell Wormley — founder of The Voice School, teacher of singers, and still very much the Little Soprano I’ve always been (just 4’11” in stature, but no less committed to the vastness of this work).

This Substack is part of something much deeper and more grounded than a newsletter. It’s a continuation of a journey that began years ago — first in recital halls, then in teaching rooms, and eventually in the small online space I called Little Soprano. That blog was where I first began reaching out beyond the studio, sharing thoughts about the singer’s inner journey — the learning, the listening, and the lived experience of singing as an adult.

By that time, I already had a long career behind me as a freelance soprano recitalist, often working in close partnership with my own vocal coach, David Harper. I had also spent many years guiding singers through workshops, classes, and one-to-one lessons — always with an ear toward their voice, and their life.

Over time, The Voice School became a natural crystallisation of all of that: teaching, performing, guiding, listening.

It’s not a huge institution. It isn’t meant to be. But it’s real, alive, and quietly growing — a small but sincere home for thoughtful classical singers who want to develop their voices in a more personal and sustainable way.

This Substack — The Classical Singer’s Path — is here to reflect that ethos. Written with adult classical singers in mind, especially those in the UK who might like to take part in person one day. While you don’t have to come to an event, that’s very much the heart of this work: a real place, a real piano, a group of like-minded solo singers, and a safe space to explore and grow and ENJOY!

If that sounds like something you’ve been quietly looking for, you’re in the right place. What you will find is a warm, steady rhythm of reflections:

• thoughts on the vocal journey

• invitations to in-person events

• stories from teaching

• repertoire ideas and gentle encouragement

• the occasional nudge to begin again

So you can see that if you live in the UK, you’ll be especially at home here.

While the writing is open to everyone, the ongoing work inevitably leads to real-life musical gatherings — study weekends, workshops, small recitals, shared lessons — the kind of events that restore something deeper than just vocal technique. Many of the singers I work with are adults who have no leanings to be part of a choir, or who want to explore their solo voice in a way that feels more focussed. And I know that sometimes, that first step back into singing is the hardest one to take.

But once taken, the joy tends to carry people forward.

So if you’re curious — or quietly drawn in — I invite you to stay.

There will be more coming soon. And you’re welcome to explore The Voice School website - or visit the Little Soprano blog archive, if you’d like a fuller sense of what this is all part of.

More soon!

Gillian

The Voice School — powered by Little Soprano