As most of you know, this past year NATS was involved in the implementation of the Carnegie Hall Royal Conservatory Achievement Program, and we helped launch the new voice series entitled Resonance at the NATS National Conference last summer in Orlando. Carnegie Hall and The Royal Conservatory announced this week that Carnegie Hall will be focusing on other initiatives in the future and that The Royal Conservatory will be solely responsible for the program moving forward. In addition, the program will be rebranded without the Carnegie Hall name.

An invitation is issued to all NATS members, chapters, districts, and regions to submit suggestions for nominees for the national offices that will be open as of July 2014.

These offices may include those of president-elect, vice president for membership, vice president for workshops, vice president for NATS Artists Awards, vice president for discretionary funds and field activities, and secretary/treasurer.

The National Association of Teachers of Singing has renewed its partnership with the acclaimed mentor program SongFest for 2013, meaning that two NATS members will receive full-tuition scholarships to a series of mentor classes especially designed for voice teachers and coaches.

SongFest 2013 will be held in two sessions at The Colburn School in Los Angeles from June 28-July 25. Participants will have the opportunity to participate in performing and teaching classes specifically for mentors, perform in four master classes (optional), daily Alexander Technique group classes, engage in two private lessons with selected faculty, perform in one selected concert, and observe all classes. The faculty members scheduled to participate at SongFest 2013 include Audrey Luna, Margo Garrett, Martin Katz, Lisa Saffer, D'Anna Fortunato, Amy Burton, Michael Barrett, Libby Larsen, John Musto, Gwen Coleman Detwiler, Frances Young and Rudolf Piernay.

“NATS is always excited about expanding its membership benefits,” said Executive Director Allen Henderson. "SongFest is a wonderful opportunity to grow professionally and learn from some of the very best in the profession. We are extremely thankful for this partnership and the opportunity it will provide our members."

The December NATS Chat took place on Sunday, Dec. 2, when Kari Ragan and David Sabella-Mills led a teacher's chat about technology in the voice studio.

Visit the NATS Chat Archive page to see a full transcript of the discussion.

Only a month remains to apply for the 2013 NATS Intern Program, an exciting and innovative venture that seeks to pair experienced and recognized master teachers of voice with talented young members of NATS.

Deadline for applications is Dec. 15, 2012.

This year’s selected interns will work with master teachers Kenneth Bozeman, Karen Brunssen, Allen Henderson and Edrie Means Weekly at Vanderbilt University from June 12-20, 2013. Donald Simonson is director of this year’s NATS Intern Program, while Jonathan Retzlaff is the on-site coordinator.