Estill Master Trainer Spotlight: Rockford Sansom 

This Estill Master Trainer spotlight features, Rockford Sansom, based in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Rockford is a communications coach, author, and professor. As a coach, he has worked with Fortune 500 executives, UN delegates, members of the US Congress, speakers in TED Talks, and actors Off-Broadway and in regional theatre. Rocky has published the book The History of Voice Pedagogy and is the Editor-in-Chief of the Voice and Speech Review.

Current home (city, country): New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Where did you grow up?: I grew up in Northwest Florida (the Panhandle, near Pensacola), but I spent most of my adult life living in New York City.

Why you do you love Estill Voice Training?: Estill Voice Training offers structure and freedom at the same time. There’s structure in the evidence-based understanding of the vocal tract, and there’s a freedom in how to use these tools and perform in an infinitely creative way.

Biggest professional challenge: As a coach, I continually negotiate the level of detail and information to offer clients–when to be simple and when to be complex.

Last book read: I just read “Haunted New Orleans: History & Hauntings of the Crescent City.” My wife and I are recent transplants, so it’s been fun to learn about this perpetually surprising and joyful (and extremely haunted) city.

Person you would most like to have dinner with: Queen Elizabeth II. And I’d like to do so at Balmoral Castle please, if we’re going to dream big here…

Favorite performer: Opera: Juan Diego Flórez. Musical Theatre: Audra McDonald. Jazz: Ella Fitzgerald. Long car rides: Billy Joel

Hobby(ies): Cooking, hiking, art museums, miniature golf, pretending to play the piano, screaming at the TV while watching American college football.

Favorite quote: “Life’s like a movie. Write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending.” – Kermit the Frog

People would be surprised to know: Despite the energy, I’m an introvert at my core.