Debra Bonner
Debra Bonner is one of America’s leading Voice Teachers with well over 20 years experience backed by a Masters of Music Degree in Voice Performance from the University of Michigan.Her studio has produced American Idol Finalists, Tony Award Winners, and Grammy Award Winners. Debra has trained professional singers in The Metropolitan Opera, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the San Francisco Symphony Chorus as well as leads in the showrooms of the Las Vegas Strip. Debra's professional association and education have included, Richard Miller,
Willis Patterson, George Shirley, Leonard Johnson, Vivian Wheeland, Ingo Titze, Seth Riggs, Oren Brown,
Jan Sullivan and James Peoples.Currently, she is the Executive Director for Debra Bonner’s 1000 Voices
Inspirational Youth Choir which is a vocal and transformational program building self esteem in the
lives of youth from ages 8-18.It is more than just a choir… It is a movement: a community of people
coming togetherto create positive change with music as the catalyst and community service as an
emphasis. “We love those whom we serve.” Debra is a testament to the positive power that singing
can have on youth and how a life can change with positive mentorship and a little financial support.
Her dream is to transform young people’s lives, giving them hope, joy and building self esteem by
helping find their authentic voice while singing songs of inspiration. They will then have the necessary tools to accomplish anything they set their minds to.She is the Vocal Coach for World Peace One, an international organization which promotes peace, economic and trade development world-wide through concerts at major venues with superstars and via a virtual extravaganza.Debra has developed a Teacher’s Vocal Training Course entitled Debratone which allows you to sing naturally in any musical genre without tension or train.Debra has performed throughout Europe, Liberia, West Africa, Canada, the U.S. and in Israel. She was a guest soloist for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on the recording entitled “An American Heritage of Spirituals” and sang for “Music and the Spoken Word. She sang solo for the LDS commercial “Friends.” She was the Barren Tree on Michael McLean’s CD “The Garden” and has sung on gospel and jazz recordings. Debra sang jazz weekly at the Pleasant Grove Theater in Pleasant Grove, Utah.
Debra Bonner presenting Seth Riggs, her mentor for many years, with the Lifetime Achievement and Impact Award given to him at the 5th Annual Malibu Music Awards at the World Famous Malibu Inn on Saturday, September 22. Among her comments Debra stated that "Seth Riggs changed the world with his vocal technique of Speech Level Singing in his teaching."
It has been 29 years since Debra was introduced and began using the basic principles of her vocal technique. I have been blessed to witness “so many” voices that she has perfected and lives she helped to transform and inspire. Whenever I would hear and wonder in amazement at the results of her training, she would calmly yet firmly say to me, “The technique works. It is a gift from God.”On those rare occasions when I have performed as a soloist and been privileged to receive vocal training from Debra and/or one of her associates, I have heard and felt the immediate improvement in my voice. I have heard and felt the sound of my “authentic voice.” I feel great about my voice. I feel great about who I am in my voice. I am so thankful to my dear Father in Heaven and to Debra for teaching this divinely inspired technique to each of our eight (8) children so that they too can sing in it and/or teach it effectively.
-Harry Bonner
(Debra's Husband / CEO of DebraTone)
My mom has taught me so much about the voice. She is the guru of vocal freedom. Because of the technique she instilled in me, I can say confidently that I am now a guru in training!
-Yunga Bonner
(Vocal coach for a variety of professional singers, professional singer, and talent manager)
This technique has shaped me as a vocalist! I can sing healthily in all styles and have been taught everything from pitch to performance. Debra Bonner is an amazing vocal coach, if not the best out there! She is encouraging, extremely patient and knows exactly how to communicate the technique to you in ways you fully understand. Match this technique with this woman and you've got a dream come true! Not to mention she's a great mom :) With this technique and voice lessons from Debra I was accepted in a very competitive Music Dance Theatre Program at BYU and cast in the National Touring Company of Memphis the musical. I know more achievements are bound to come because of my wonderful experience!
-Oyoyo Bonner
(Lead in multiple shows, such as: Aida, Ragtime, and the National Touring Company of Memphis The Musical)
"Through DebraTone we are able to guide the students voice to their natural state. Most of what we do as humans is imitate what we have heard over the years, but with this method we are able to identify the natural tone that the client was born with. We are then able to build on a foundation that is strong and authentic to the students voice. The power that I am able to bring from the voice without the strain and tension is comparable to the amplified sound a baby makes when crying. This method establishes a strong foundation that can continue to be built upon throughout a singer or speaker's lifetime. There are tones or frequencies that we respond to differently by nature. There are some voices that solely by their sound can annoy and some that can inspire. With a certain tone of voice we can command attention, show affection, appear decisive, and show any of the many emotions. We living creatures react to tones before we do words. It is the way a vibration moves us that creates an emotion or reaction. There is a reason why the majority of women news anchors share the same vocal tone. There is a reason why 2 of the most influential black men in history MLK and President Obama share the same DebraTone. We react to the frequencies of notes the same way we did when we were baby. As infants we may not know the words but could feel and connect to a tone whether it was love, authoritative, or disciplinary. This is the same with all living things. It is not the words that is identified but the toning of the voice. The voice is the key to self expression whether it be used for song or speech. As I work out the voice of my clients they find themselves gaining more confidence in themselves as they consequently gain a more authoritative and leadership role in their personal lives. This is due to the authenticity of their Vocal Tone."
-Mauli B
(Professional singer, songwriter and vocal coach. Trains some of Hollywood's top stars)
I plan to be a superstar when I come back from my church mission in South Africa. Thanks mom for everything, I love you so much.
- Oba Bonner
(Up and coming recording artist and songwriter for "The Senate" and other Grammy Award winning writers)
This technique allowed me to reach notes I never dreamed of hitting with power and a rich tone. I have been able to express who I am through song rather than imitating someone else’s tone and emotions. Growing up surrounded by this technique has not only strengthened my singing, but has also helped define who I am as a person. I am passionate, sensitive, determined, and confident. These are qualities that have helped me in my everyday activities such as work, family life, etc.
Singing has helped me achieve many great accomplishments. I sang the National Anthem at many track meets, which helped transfer that confidence into my athletic performances, becoming an All-American athlete in track and field.
Singing hymns at church strengthened my relationship with my God, which is the most important relationship anyone can have. I would encourage anyone and everyone to utilize this technique because of the effect it has had on me.
-Conlon Bonner
(Lead in multiple shows such as Big River and Ragtime)
Debra Bonner teaches at a high level and yet still has the techniques and experience to teach effectively to whomever has that desire to sing. She has helped produce and increase the talents of many great artists, and other vocal instructors. The innovative exercises that she uses to strengthen the human voice has not only helped beautify my personal tone but as basketball coach who heavily relies on my intense vocal projection; it has allowed me to do my job and still sing solos in church.
I promise that after a visit with Debra Bonner a person will not only hear a change in their voice but will also have an increased confidence level in their ability to sing. That’s what my mom does, she will amplify your natural voice to enable it to reach it’s full potential. Debra tone! Vocal toning, call it what you like, I just know that I’m a witness to the results that come from taking vocal instruction with one of the greatest vocal coaches in the country.
-Yahosh Bonner
(Assistant coach Southern Utah University, number one point guard for the states of Utah and Arizona, head coach at ALA, and songwriter/recording artist)
This technique has been a godsent. Not only has this technique provided for my family in ways that any 9 to 5 has not, but it has blessed the lives of those that have used it for their own musical aspirations. The students that I have taught range from those who have been considered tone deaf, to those who already make their living as singers. This method has inspired and instilled confidence in individuals who were told would never be able to sing, and made them beautiful musical artists.I'm so grateful to my mom who showed me how to bless others with the gift of song through this method.
Thanks mom, you're the best!
- Nolong Bonner Abbey
(Manager at Bank of America, teaches up and coming recording artists from America and the country of Georgia and currently studying law)
My mother Debra has been my mentor ever sinse I began teaching 12 years ago. This technique is one that allows the voice to continue to strengthen and evolve. I have used DebraTone in every performance based professional setting. I used it everyday while performing with the BYU Young Ambassadors for three years. I took it with me as my base vocal routine while touring with the Broadway National Tour of "The Color Purple" for 18 months, and most recently this technique improved each of my European up and coming artists as the Vocal Director of an Independent record label in the Country of Georgia. That's where I met my husband- so thanks Mom. :) Love you, and you really are the best!
-Clotile Kepashvili