By: Avoof
As the global performing arts community prepares to celebrate World Voice Day on April 16, one voice stands out not only for its mastery but for its mission to bridge cultures, disciplines, and generations. Qinghong Lin, Associate Professor and Master’s Supervisor at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, has spent more than a decade shaping the future of voice training and performance arts. Her career reflects a rare combination of academic achievement, artistic excellence, and cultural diplomacy.
With a background that spans law, drama, and communication, Lin’s professional journey is both unconventional and inspiring. After earning a Bachelor’s degree from Renmin University of China and a Master’s from Xiamen University, she pursued a Ph.D. in Performance Studies at Shanghai Theatre Academy. She later continued her studies as a visiting scholar at Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Southern California, and Emerson College—gaining deep exposure to Western approaches to acting, communication, voice and speech.
Lin’s expertise is anchored in the intersection of theory and practice. Before becoming an academic, she spent eight years as an award-winning TV presenter in China, hosting large-scale national events and earning recognition as one of the country’s Top Ten TV Column Hosts. Fluent in Mandarin, English, and the Minnan dialect, she became the first host from mainland China to livestream the Cross-Strait University Singer Competition in Taiwan. These years on the front lines of media gave her a practical understanding of performance, speech patterns, and vocal presence—experience that now informs her teaching and research.
Photo Courtesy: Qinghong Lin / Nikita M
Her academic contributions have been equally significant. Lin is a certified teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework® and currently serves as the China Coordinator for the Fitzmaurice Voice Institute, based in the United States. She is the youngest regional coordinator in the Institute’s history. In this role, she has worked to introduce the Fitzmaurice method to Chinese institutions, building localized curriculum structures and fostering cultural exchange between East and West.
Lin’s voice training philosophy is rooted in integration. She has dedicated her career to synthesizing Western methodologies with traditional Chinese vocal techniques—helping students and professionals alike enhance their performance, public speaking, and communication skills. Her academic and practical achievements are exemplified in her monograph Drama and Communication, which was published by Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House—one of the top-tier publishers in China—as part of the Shanghai Municipal “Double First-Class” High-Level Local University Construction Project. The book was quickly recognized across the field, being selected by Broadcasting China as one of the “Top Ten Broadcasting Books of 2022” and featured by China Publishing & Media Journal, a publication under China Publishing Group. Notably, the book received a written recommendation and review from Mr. Honglin Wu, a pioneering figure in China’s broadcasting education, former Dean of the Television Art School at Shanghai Theatre Academy, mentor to famed CCTV host Qing Dong, and a judge on the TV show Challenge the Host. This recognition reflects Lin’s interdisciplinary expertise, which spans acting techniques, voice and speech training, and communication studies—positioning her as one of the few professionals deeply versed in all three fields.
Her academic research demonstrates this intersectionality. Lin has contributed to five major provincial and national-level projects in China, including initiatives under the National Social Science Fund and the Ministry of Education. Her paper “The Theory Traveling and Innovation of the Dramatical Model in China” won First Prize at the 34th Tian Han Drama Awards. Another paper, “Intercultural Acting Training: Interact and Adapt in the Depths of Vanishing Boundaries,” was presented at prominent academic conferences in Asia-Pacific.
Since joining the faculty of Shanghai Theatre Academy in 2017, Lin has taught over 600 undergraduate and graduate students. A number of her students have gone on to successful careers in acting, broadcasting, and public speaking. Beyond the classroom, many industry professionals have benefited from her workshops, papers, and business training programs.
“Qinghong Lin is among the most drama-savvy scholars in communication and one of the most communication-savvy scholars in drama,” says Walton Wilson, Head of Acting and Voice and Speech at Yale School of Drama, in a letter of recommendation. “Her work contributes significantly to intercultural voice training.”
In recognition of her contributions to teaching, Lin has earned multiple awards, including First Prize at the 2023 Shanghai Theatre Academy Young Teacher Teaching Competition and the Youth Excellent Paper Award from the Chinese Drama Academic Journal Alliance. Her Voice Training course has been named a key curriculum by the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission.
In 2024, Lin was appointed as a Provincial Mandarin Proficiency Tester and Counselor, further establishing her reputation in language and vocal studies. Her impact extends internationally: She is currently preparing to expand her teaching and research activities in the United States.
Photo Courtesy: Qinghong Lin / Nikita M
As part of her future plans, Lin is leading efforts to assist and support the Fitzmaurice Voice Institute to establish the first bilingual Fitzmaurice Voicework Teacher Certification Program in China—a groundbreaking initiative that will integrate Chinese and English instruction and create new pathways for cross-cultural collaboration in vocal training. She is also trying to offer specialized coaching in Mandarin pronunciation, tone correction, and vocal techniques for American professionals, cultural leaders, and business executives.
“In a globalized world, the ability to communicate effectively across cultures is essential,” says Natsuko Ohama, Head of Voice and Speech at USC School of Dramatic Arts. “Qinghong Lin’s work is crucial in building that bridge.”
On April 16, 2025, Lin and Micha Espinosa, the director of the institution will each represent on behalf of the organization in hosting separate online and offline workshops during the Fitzmaurice Voice Institute’s World Voice Day events. She will share insights from her interdisciplinary research and professional experience, contributing to the global conversation about the power of voice in performance, leadership, and human connection.
David Bridel, former Dean of the USC School of Dramatic Arts, echoes this sentiment: “Lin Qinghong is a unique figure in our field, with a commitment to education and cultural exchange that is both inspiring and impactful.”
As she continues to expand her influence, Qinghong Lin is poised to reshape the landscape of voice training in both the East and the West. Her mission is clear: to empower the next generation of performers, communicators, and leaders with the tools to make their voices heard.
Published by Jeremy S.
