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59th NATS National Conference Featured Performances
The Great American Songbook Starring Caroline Bowman & Austin Colby*
Sunday, July 5 at 7:30 p.m. | San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter, Salon I
Benjamin Rauhala, Music Director
Broadway performers and real-life husband-and-wife duo Caroline Bowman and Austin Colby combine their talents for an unforgettable celebration of the Great American Songbook, featuring beloved Broadway and pop standards. Caroline Bowman is widely recognized for her acclaimed performances as Elphaba in Wicked and Eva Perón in Evita, with additional credits including national tours of Frozen, Kinky Boots, Spamalot, and Fame. Austin Colby made his Broadway debut in The Great Gatsby and has appeared on national tours of Frozen and The Sound of Music. Their undeniable chemistry, star power, and artistry promise a memorable concert and must-see highlight of the 59th NATS National Conference.
*Ticket required. Get tickets & register
Opening Ceremony: Our Mosaic of Music
Saturday, July 4 from 9-11 a.m. | San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter, Salon I
Featuring Rafael Moras, Alamo City Street Choir, San Antonio Chamber Choir, Wonder Theatre, Children’s Chorus of San Antonio, and more!
Presiding: Alexis Davis-Hazell, NATS President
The 59th NATS National Conference opens with a vibrant celebration of singing, community, and cultural heritage in the heart of San Antonio. In honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States, this inspiring program reflects the rich mosaic of traditions that shape both the nation and this historic city.
The opening ceremony features a dynamic lineup of regional artists known for artistic excellence and community engagement, including acclaimed artist Rafael Moras; the Children’s Chorus of San Antonio; a specially curated theatrical vignette by Wonder Theatre; select singers from the San Antonio Chamber Choir in collaboration with the Alamo City Street Singers, plus a local mariachi ensemble and more! Together, these artists offer a moving and festive beginning to the conference as we celebrate our shared musical diversity, professional connection and collaboration, and the transformative power of singing.
Closing Ceremony: A Musical Mosaic
Monday, July 6 from 4-6 p.m. | San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter, Salon I
Featuring 2026 NATS Artist Award Winner Josefina Maldonado, 2026 National Musical Theatre Competition Winner Olivia Hellman, and a collaborative performance of Bernstein's Songfest
The conference concludes with an afternoon of music celebrating the transformative power of singing! Featured artists include 2026 NATS Artist Award winner Josefina Maldonado and 2026 National Musical Theatre Competition winner Olivia Hellmann in recital, plus a collaborative performance from our very own NATS members. The program will culminate with selections from Bernstein’s Songfest, a 12-movement work commissioned for America’s Bicentennial. It presents a kaleidoscope of American poetry — from the early Puritan voice of Anne Bradstreet to contemporary writers like June Jordan and Lawrence Ferlinghetti — exploring themes of love, loss, identity, and artistic truth. Bernstein’s music mirrors these tensions: celebratory yet questioning, personal yet collective. Don’t miss this fitting and powerful ending as we reflect on our time together and look toward the future.
Art Song Composition Award Winners in Concert
Saturday, July 4 at 2:30 p.m. | San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter, Salon B
- Performance of 2025 Winning Composition – Love Songs from a Third Floor Walk-Up by Raphael Fusco is a set of five songs for medium high voice and piano with text by Caitlin Vincent.
- Performance of 2026 Winning Composition – “Confession and Other Lyrics” by James Hurley is a set of four songs for tenor and piano with texts by Michael Crummey.
Late Nite NATS
Saturday, July 4 at 9:30 p.m. | San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter, Salon E
