Marjorie Trimm, a celebrated Samford University music alumna, takes us on a journey through her life, which has been a story of resilience, passion and transformation. From her initial career in marketing and nonprofit management, to becoming a Certified Vocologist and acquiring a master's in voice pedagogy, to running her own studio, Trimm's story is a testament to the power of pursuing one's calling and the transformative role of education.
Before pursuing a career in music, Trimm attended Boston College, earning a degree in English with a minor in psychology, marketing and French. However, after her son Will's brain injury in 2012, she felt a distinct calling from God to pursue a career as a voice teacher. This passion had developed over the years through her dedicated involvement in singing in various choirs. Unlike most voice majors who aspire to perform on stage, Trimm had a dream of becoming a voice teacher.
Despite having two middle school-aged children, she pursued a second undergraduate degree at Samford’s School of the Arts. Besides receiving an excellent education, she also found a sense of community. Her return to education as an adult not only enabled her to follow her passion, but also helped her foster healthy study habits in her children. When asked if she would give any nontraditional students advice if looking to come to Samford on their career journey, she said:
“One hundred percent do it. You will be surprised by the education you get, the life-changing experience you get going to a God-centered university, and what that will do for your life. It’s the people at Samford that make such a difference, both the students and professors. It’s one of the healthiest things I’ve ever done for myself.”
During her time at Samford, Trimm began teaching voice lessons to students while pursuing graduate studies. She obtained a graduate level certification in vocology, a relatively new field of voice science that helped her to better identify vocal issues, including reflux, allergies, or even voice disorders. If issues are suspected, she accompanies students (and a parent) to get checked out. Trimm also earned her master's in voice pedagogy from Westminster Choir College in 2023 while teaching and expanding her voice studio. Her courses, particularly Professor Brad Diamond's Voice Pedagogy, prepared her for the vocology program and her master’s studies.
“One of my initial hesitations when people started asking me for voice lessons before I went back to school was my concern about how to identify if there was something wrong with the voice,” said Trimm. “I was really worried about this. But I was led to an answer with the field of vocology, a combination that includes the fields of ENT/Laryngology, speech language pathology, voice teachers and voice acting teachers.”
She currently has a roster of nearly 80 students, ages 7-76, who she teaches one-on-one in her private voice studio. The adolescent singer is of particular interest. Trimm cherishes the opportunity to guide her students as they navigate the challenges and changes of their developing voices.
Trimm is excited to welcome nine of her students to Samford’s campus for the second annual Samford University High School Honors Voice Recital on Friday, March 1, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. in Brock Recital Hall.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for several of my high school students to perform in such a splendid facility,” said Trimm. “This recital is a fantastic way to give high school singers interested in studying voice in college a snapshot of what their future could look like.”
Trimm’s future plans are to develop the master’s thesis into a book, designed as a manual to help other independent voice teachers who teach adolescent singers during the male and female voice change. Her influence has even led her eldest son, Chris, to attend Samford. As a current fifth-year senior in sport administration in the School of Health Professions, he also shares a passion for music. He was a member of the Samford Marching Band and A Cappella Choir. For Trimm, her time at Samford was instrumental in laying a foundation for her vocation as a voice teacher. Despite facing challenges, she remained steadfast, pursuing her passion and God’s calling for her life.
Marjorie Trimm's journey is a testament to the transformative power in trusting God’s plan, serving as a reminder that it is never too late to pursue your dreams. As Trimm continues to contribute to music education and inspire her students, her story will undoubtedly resonate and inspire many more.