After the season two finale of NBC’s “The Voice” aired, we reached out to NATS member Jonathan Retzlaff, Associate Professor of Voice and Chair of the Voice Department at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, to ask him about his former student Chris Mann.  Jonathan was kind enough to share some memories of Chris’s time at Vanderbilt and some of his work leading up to “The Voice:”

The National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Award (NATSAA) Competition for Singers is known nationally as one of the most prestigious awards for classical vocalists, with over $50,000 in cash and prizes. Semifinalists will each receive a stipend of $200 from the NATS executive office to assist in covering travel costs.

Please join NATS in congratulating the following semi-finalists for the 2012 NATSAA competition:

Two pre-conference workshops are being offered at the 52nd NATS National Conference that aim to challenge and inspire. On June 29, conference attendees that have also registered for a preconference can choose between Dr. Christopher Arneson’s workshop, “Assess Before You Assign: Selecting Repertoire from a Developmental Perspective” and Ryan Saab’s workshop, “The Ultimate Music Theater Audition Seminar.”

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) personnel will be in Orlando for the 52nd National Conference presenting a breakout session “Surviving and Thriving in the Cruise Industry." NATS has just confimed that RCCL has agreed to hold auditions while in Orlando.

It’s no wonder why the 52nd National Conference has taken on a tropical theme when it is being held at the beautiful Renaissance Orlando Resort at SeaWorld. From June 29 – July 3, 2012 conference attendees will not only have the opportunity to participate in the traditional classes, sessions, and programs offered at every NATS conference, but will have the opportunity to network and share knowledge in the lush and tropical surroundings of this year’s conference. As you prepare for your adventure in Orlando for this year’s conference, be sure to keep the following activities, events, and special offers in mind to help make your experience tropical and magical: