Aubrey Lauren
MEet Aubrey.
Aubrey Lauren is a vocalist, researcher, and educator whose work spans the realms of performance, pedagogy, and musicological inquiry. Originally from LaGrange, Illinois, she now resides in Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi, and is soon to begin her doctoral studies at the University of Auckland in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Her PhD research centers on vocal music in Eastern Germany after World War II, exploring the intricate intersections of politics and music in postwar society.
Through all facets of her work —research, performance, teaching, and composition— Aubrey remains guided by a deep belief in music’s power to connect, challenge, and uplift. She is particularly interested in how the human voice serves as both a personal and public instrument, capable of carrying stories across time, borders, and ideologies.
ResEarch
Aubrey’s current research explores the vocal music of East Germany in the aftermath of World War II, with a particular focus on how the human voice functioned as both an artistic medium and a political instrument. Her work investigates the cultural policies of the German Democratic Republic (GDR/DDR), tracing how vocal music, from opera to choral works, was shaped by state ideologies, censorship, and systems of patronage. This time period fascinates her, as the composers grappled with rebuilding a new German identity from the ashes of the old, while faced with the important task of sifting through the prior, dangerous, nationalistic undertones. Through archival work, historical analysis, and performance-based inquiry, Aubrey aims to shed new light on a period of music history that remains underexplored and reveal how voices carried not only melodies but also the weight of ideology, memory, and hope for a better future.
Vocalist
As a performer, she is known for her clarity of tone, expressive nuance, and stylistic versatility. She has appeared as a soloist with ensembles including the Hawaiʻi Vocal Arts Ensemble, Early Music Hawaii, First Congressional Church of LaGrange, and the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, and has performed at venues ranging from local cafés to Carnegie Hall. She holds a Master of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and a Bachelor of Arts in Voice Performance from Northwestern University, where she completed a double major in Opera Performance and a self-designed major in Music Business, alongside a minor in Musicology focused on international music from 1980 to the present.
Equally dedicated to teaching, Aubrey is an award-winning voice, piano, and violin coach, offering instruction with over a decade of experience. Her accolades include multiple "Teacher of the Year" honors from Lessonface across a range of vocal styles, including opera, country, metal, and folk. Her pedagogical approach is rooted in having a strong understanding of vocal anatomy, an emphasis on creativity, and fostering student-centered growth through building confidence.
Get in Touch
Aubrey can be reached directly via her contact form and on social media. She maintains an active YouTube page and community.