Melissa McKeague

Voice Description

My speaking voice is naturally medium to low in pitch, and is very flexible. I can sound sexy, breathy, or slightly manic and giddy for commercials; for child-focused projects I can be very silly and have a few strange characters up my sleeve. I can be stern and businesslike, authoritative or elegant, suitable for ‘on-hold’ messaging, narrations, audio books or presentations.
My singing voice has a range of approximately three octaves, and although I cannot read music, I am a very quick study.

Voice Genders and "Ages" I Can Perform

• Child
• Teenage Girl
• Young Adult Female
• Middle Age Female
• Senior Female
• Senior Male

Language(s) of Which I Am a Native Speaker:

• English - North American

I Offer my Services for these Recording Purposes

• Commercials
• Promos
• IVR, voicemail, phone systems, and on-hold messages
• Training, business presentations, sales, and web sites
• Audiobooks
• Videogames
• Documentaries
• TV shows and movies
• Movie and game trailers
• Podcasts
• Adult content
• Songs
• Others (on-camera, infomercials, live announcers, spokespersons)

Jobs I Am Willing to Take (Union-wise)

• Non-Union Jobs

• Jobs for ACTRA (Canada) signatories

• Jobs for AFTRA (US) signatories

• Jobs for British Equity signatories

• Jobs for SAG (US) signatories

• Jobs for Union des Artistes (Canada) signatories

My Union Affiliations and Memberships

None

My Recording and Delivery Capabilities

• I will go to any designated studio in my area
• I have ISDN in my studio
• I can record and then deliver the audio files via Email
• I can record and then upload the audio files via FTP
• I can record and then deliver the files by regular mail

Pre-, Post- and Production Services I Offer

• I offer copywriting services
• I have a music library and can add music to any project

My Home Base

Enniskillen, United Kingdom

Accents, Impersonations, Characters and Dialects

CHARACTER VOICES: Hyacinth Bucket, Chipmunk, Vie-etta/(big mama) Hispanish Princess, Patsy Hicklady, Chat-line hotbabe, Russian Lady, Long Island Nusiance woman, Texas Momma, Python-esque English Voices, Valley Girl, Emmit the redneck, can attempt to manufacture other voices given a 'brief' and a short amount of time.
I can sing like Cher, Annie Lennox.

My Voice Experience

I was one of those awful children that tried to mimic everything and everyone she heard. My earliest memories are of sitting in front of the hi-fi trying to sound like David Seville's Chipmunks. My father told me it was "impossible" without electronics. I managed it anyway, and can sing, and recite Shakespeare as a chipmunk, among other things.
The voices I do generally come from people I've known during a colourful life: roommates from Venezuela, Russia, Greece, a boss from Long Island, over-bearing Texas relations, etc. My formal, paid voiceover experience is limited. However, in spite of this and no real training to speak of, I actually had a chance to use my voice at KMFA 89.5 FM, Austin, TX. A classical music station with est. listenership of 80,000;
I worked as a part-time permanent announcer doing about 18 hours a week on air. I recorded various PSA’s as needed for upcoming events, i.e., "Texas Wildflowers and Wine Festival" etc. I also had a chance to do some scriptwriting and on-air performance as the 'enfant terrible' character in an educational music show for children. I miss this work and am fed-up doing jobs that mean nothing for people who generally end up in my vocal repertoire, so I'm writing to you.

My Training

EXPERIENCE
RADIO--
BBC Radio Ulster, Belfast-wrote & recorded 2 pieces for My Story: 'The Thrush Flush; Sadie and the Magpies' Broadcast 2005;
Recorded a piece for This Place: "Boa Island"
Broadcast 2003;

KMFA 89.5 FM, Austin, TX: Regular Part-time Announcer classical music station with est.listener-ship of 80,000;
Scriptwriting and on-air performance as character in educational music show for children; Recorded various PSA’s "Texas Wildflowers and Wine" etc., 1997-2000.

THEATRE:
Clef Notes Fundraiser for KMFA Radio--Featured Reader: Austin, TX.
The Mikado--Peep-Bo: MIT, Cambridge, MA.
Man of La Mancha--Housekeeper/Prisoner: Hyde Park Theatre, Austin, TX.
Anatol--Ilona: The Acting Studio.
G & S Sampler--Hebbe/Phoebe/Peep-Bo: Hyde Park Theatre.
Brigadoon--Jane Ashton/Chorus: Mary Hardin-Baylor.
Excerpts from the Bard--Katherine/Portia/
Lady Macbeth: Mary Hardin-Baylor.
Anna Christie--Anna:Hyde Park Theatre,Temple Civic Theatre.
No Exit--Inez: Mary Hardin-Baylor.

FILM:
More Than Words--Angela: Echo Bridge Productions, Boston, MA 1994

VOICE:
Vocalist: Yankee Panky 2! Fermanagh Arts Festival, Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen, September, 2008.
Featured Vocalist: A Little Night Music! Fundraiser, Riding for the Disabled; Enniskillen, 2008.
Vocalist: Yankee Panky! Fundraiser, various charities; Willie Rambler’s, Enniskillen, 2007.
Soloist: Fermanagh Choral Society, Enniskillen, 2006-2007.
Soloist: Early Music Ensemble University of Texas at Austin 1996-1998.
Chamber Choir: Harvard-Radcliffe Chorus, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 1990-1994,
OTHER VOCAL/CHORAL EXPERIENCE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

TRAINING:
ACTING/STAGE MOVEMENT:
Jim Spruill-Boston University, Boston MA, 1990-92.
Bernard Engle-University of Texas at Austin,1987-89.
Charles Taylor-Mary Hardin-Baylor, Belton TX, 1983-85.

CLASSICAL VOICE:
Bruce Douglas-Austin Community College 1995-2000.
Jean Danton-New England Conservatory, Boston, 1989-1994.
Su Sun Wong-University of Texas at Austin,1986-1989.
Guy Wilson-University of Mary Hardin-Baylor,1983-1985.

CREATIVE WRITING: BA, MFA,
SPECIAL SKILLS:
Singing-Jazz, musical theatre, classical;
Writing-Prose, scriptwriting, copyediting, quirky verses

My Studio Equipment

This is where I fall down, as I have only ever had someone else to do the recording. Within my house I have a microphone and a computer, although there is a studio not too far away from me, that's where I recorded the demo material.

Additional Skills

SPECIAL SKILLS:
Singing-Jazz, musical theatre, classical;
Writing-Prose, scriptwriting, copyediting, quirky verses
wrote and had published a 'rap' for kids about caring, also wrote and broadcast a couple of short pieces for BBC Radio Ulster

Payment Methods Accepted

• PayPal
• Personal checks, cashier's checks, or money orders in my local currency
• Wire transfers

Online Payments Via PayPal

Contact Information

To contact Melissa McKeague by email or phone, please click here.