Van L. Lawrence Fellowship

The Van L. Lawrence Fellowship was created to honor Van L. Lawrence, M.D. for his outstanding contribution to voice, and particularly to recognize the importance of the interdisciplinary education he fostered among laryngologists and singing teachers. It is awarded jointly by The Voice Foundation and National Association of Teachers of Singing Foundation. The Fellowship winner will be provided with the opportunity to attend the annual Symposium on Care of the Professional Voice and visit laryngologists, speech pathologists, voice scientists, and research centers associated with The Voice Foundation during the fellowship year, with resulting research to be considered for expedited publication in the Journal of Voice or Journal of Singing.

Eligibility Requirements

Candidates for the Van L. Lawrence Fellowship must be members of National Association of Teachers of Singing and actively engaged in teaching. The Fellowship will be awarded to candidates who have demonstrated excellence in their professions as singing teachers, and who have shown interest in, and knowledge of, voice science. The Fellowship is intended to provide opportunities for the Fellow to become more thoroughly acquainted with practices, techniques, technology, and people involved in laryngology and voice science. It is hoped that the opportunities and contacts provided through the Fellowship experience will enhance the teacher's ability to do meaningful interdisciplinary research, and will encourage the teacher to apply appropriate voice science advances in the studio.

Award Amount

The amount of the Van L. Lawrence Fellowship award is determined annually by The Voice Foundation and National Association of Teachers of Singing Foundation. The funds are to be used to defray expenses for the Fellowship winner to attend the annual Symposium on Care of the Professional Voice (tuition shall be waived). Following the Symposium, the Fellow will be provided with the opportunity to visit laryngologists, speech pathologists, voice scientists, and research centers associated with The Voice Foundation during the fellowship year. Specific locations and durations of stay will be arranged in accordance with the Fellow's interests and needs and the availability of the centers to be visited.

Following completion of the Fellowship experience, it is anticipated that the Fellow will have opportunities to consult with the scientists he or she has visited, and to apply his or her newly acquired knowledge in designing and executing a research project to help advance the field of voice teaching. The Voice Foundation will help provide review of the resulting paper and counseling regarding its improvement. When appropriate, the paper will be considered for expedited publication in the Journal of Voice or Journal of Singing.

Selection Process

The Van L. Lawrence Fellowship shall be awarded by the Board of Directors of The Voice Foundation and National Association of Teachers of Singing. The Fellowship Committee shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Board of The Voice Foundation and the President of National Association of Teachers of Singing and shall include at least one representative from the Board of Directors of The Voice Foundation and one representative from National Association of Teachers of Singing. Additional members shall be appointed at the discretion of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Voice Foundation and the President of National Association of Teachers of Singing.

Application Requirements

Fellowship applicants should write The Voice Foundation stating their desire to apply for a Van L. Lawrence Fellowship. The application letter should cover the following topics (as well as others which the applicant believes will strengthen his/her application, but please be as succinct as possible):

• Current application of scientific knowledge in the studio;
• The area of intended study and/or research project;
• How the Fellowship and research project will benefit your teaching;
• NATS chapter to which you belong;
• Also attach a detailed curriculum vitae.

Those wishing to apply for the fellowship should write an electronic letter of intent to The Voice Foundation via Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Email Deadline is November 15, 2012.

The fellowship will be awarded at the next Symposium on Care of the Professional Voice scheduled for May 29 - June 2, 2013 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

If you have any questions, please contact The Voice Foundation office.

Past Van L. Lawrence Fellowship Recipients

2012 - Kari Ragan
2011 - Brian Gill
2010 - David Meyer
2009 - Donald Bell
2008 - Margaret Baroody
2007 - Kathryn Barnes-Burroughs
2006 - John Nix
2005 - Lynn Helding
2003 - Katherine Eberle and Norman Spivey
2002 - Jan Prokop
2001 - Meribeth Bunch
2000 - Brenda Smith
1999 - Stephen Austin and Jeannette Lo Vetri
1998 - Kathleen Wilson and Marvin Keenze
1997 - Freda Herseth
1996 - Ruth Golden
1995 - Sue W. Snyder and Thomas Houser
1994 - Kenneth Bozeman and Janette Ogg
1993 - Karen Peeler and Lynelle F. Wiens
1992 - Raquel Cortina
1991 - Lois Yadeau