Did you know that the NATS Job Center is the most tartgeted way to reach voice teachers in the world?  Do you have a vacant job in your organization? NATS can help with that! The NATS website, www.nats.org, has a Job Center - http://www.nats.org/job-center.html - where institutions come to post their vacant positions for singing professionals. The job center is available to the public on the website, so ads in the job center not only reach nearly 7,300 members of NATS, but also the general public that view the website.

Harter Clingman learned about the National Music Theater Competition like most performers learn about NATS competitions, from his voice teacher. Harter has been working with Carol Loverde, his voice teacher, since 2009 when he was a student at Columbia College in Chicago and had studied with her while competing in the Chicago Chapter Music Theater Competition in 2010.  When she suggested he audition for NMTC she included four months of free voice lessons, which is where Harter’s journey began. As he tells it, “It was a very positive experience that just kept getting more positive.”

The 42^nd NATS Artist Awards Competition completed on Friday, June 29, 2012 when the finals were held in conjunction with the 52^nd National Conference.  Six singers advanced from the semifinal round to compete in the final competition. Andrew Garland and Laura Choi Stuart were awarded first and second prize, respectively.

In late 2011 NATS announced the first National Music Theater Competition (NMTC) and on June 30, 2012, Jacob Keith Watson, the first winner was announced at the 52^nd National Conference in Orlando, FL. The NMTC aims to seek out and award the best emerging talent in music theater

Open to singers age 20-28, the NMTC offered more than $10,000 in cash and prizes to the top three contestants. Sponsors including Hal Leonard Corporation, Stage Door Access, Stage Stars, and ArtsApp all contributed to prize packages for first, second, and third place winner.

The 52^nd National Conference may have come and gone, but the memories can last forever. Whether you attended the conference, or not, you can order photos, CDs, or DVDs on all of the great conference sessions, events, and happenings. Conference photos and CD’s and DVD’s of the sessions are now available!