Jessye DeSilva
For media inquiries, please contact Media Relations
I want students to come away from our work together with a flexible understanding of their vocal instrument and their art-making, as well as a sense of kindness and reverence for their sense of self.
Jessye DeSilva (she/her) joined the Conservatory in 2017 and is an associate professor of voice for musical theater. DeSilva also teaches a graduate-level class on Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy at the Conservatory. She is a singer-songwriter and teacher who is passionate about the human stories found throughout diverse mediums such as musical theater, rock, cabaret, folk, and popular music. DeSilva earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts in voice performance and pedagogy at Temple University. Her doctoral monograph, A Survey of the Current State of Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Vocal Pedagogy Training at the Graduate Level, examines the need to include contemporary and musical theater techniques in graduate-level voice pedagogy programs. Previously, she held teaching positions as a visiting assistant professor of musical theater voice at the Ira Brind School of Theater Arts at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. DeSilva has a background in both contemporary (pop/rock/musical theater) and classical voice, and believes that establishing a sense of safety and empowerment in the voice studio is key to achieving freedom of expression in a student’s music making.
Recent Engagements
- Official showcase debut at Americanafest in Nashville, Tennessee (September 2023)
- Second full-length album, Renovations, released in July 2023 to critical acclaim
- Singles from Renovations featured in Rolling Stone, NPR Music, The Boot, and No Depression
Highlights
- Published her book Singing the Landscapes of Queer Self with Lived Places Publishing in 2025
- Has opened for artists like Lisa Loeb, Brian Dunne, Adeem the Artist, and Lizzie No
- Has collaborated in the studio with artists like Aaron Lee Tasjan, Adia Victoria, and Butch Walker
- Performed as an official showcasing artist at Americanafest in Nashville, Tennessee
- Independently released two full-length albums and three eps, streaming online