People
Kristofer Eckelhoff
ERI/PS2 Public Research Fellow
Kristofer Eckelhoff (they/he) is a transgender singer, musicologist, and activist. They have performed in the U.S. and Europe and have received national and international scholarships to support their work on transgender performance history. Eckelhoff has a wait list for their private, sliding-scale voice studio, which consists only of trans singers, and is developing a transgender-focused vocal method to better serve trans singers. Kristofer is a 2025 ERI/PS2 Summer Public Research Fellow.
The ERI/PS2 fellowship enabled me to initiate the production of my web series Singing While Trans, an open education resource for transgender musicians and performing artists. Within the last decade, voice teachers and music educators have become increasingly interested in training trans singers, as evidenced by the numerous workshops at national conventions and circulation of published materials. Though these sources contain valuable information, they are often written by cisgender people who provide “Trans 101” as it pertains to singing and the texts are typically cost prohibitive, often exceeding $100 for a paperback copy. In my web series, I diverge from an introductory method and delve further into the nuances of the transgender voice, a substantial portion of which is based upon my experiences teaching and providing workshops to hundreds of transgender people across the globe. The demand for my work as a trans vocal instructor and entertainer, which prioritizes affordable and equitable access, inspired this project with a goal of reaching those who have limited resources.
This project centers—and quite literally elevates—trans voices. I discuss common topics and questions that I receive at workshops, public events, and in private lessons as well as interview other trans performers, vocal instructors, and music industry professionals. I will share practical exercises—as I would in a voice lesson or master class—and hold conversations with trans experts about various aspects of singing and performance, trans cultural production, and career tips for navigating academia and the performing arts as a trans or gender-diverse person. A portion of the funding allowed me to compensate other trans professionals for their expertise, time, and emotional labor. Doing so allows me to provide valuable, free resources that highlight the important work being done by trans artists and create an educational space that centers trans joy and success.
I am still in the production phase, but I anticipate beginning post-production in December 2025 and will start launching episodes in January of 2026. The fellowship period allows me to complete ten episodes. Once they launch, I will be able to continue recording episodes and build a queue so that I can regularly release episodes throughout the year.
