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56th National Conference Special Events
Pre-Conference Events/Special Tours
Pre-Conference Workshops (additional ticket purchase required to attend)
Acoustic and Perceptual Voice Pedagogy: From impulse and affect to pedagogy and performance • Voice and Hearing Health for Singers and Voice Teachers • Teaching the Singer Songwriter • Emotional Safety on Stage, In Rehearsal and In the Studio • When Pedagogy Meets Profession
Social Gatherings
Grand Opening Reception • GRAND songSLAM • Late Night NATS • Intern Program Reunion • President's Reception • Pub Crawl - NATS ROCKS KNOX! • NATS Leadership Luncheon • SNATS Gathering • Gala Celebration Banquet
Recitals
Competition Winners Concert • Art Song Composition Recital • American Spiritual Ensemble
Competition Finals
National Student Auditions
Other Special Events
College Showcase & Expo
Pre-Conference Events/Special Tours
Cades Cove Heritage Tour - Thursday, June 25, 2020
Tickets: $49 each person (includes tour and bus transportation to and from convention center). Time: 8:00 amTour departs the Knoxville Convention Center at 8 am and returns to Knoxville at approximately 3 pm.
Experience the beauty and history of Cades Cove - Nestled in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, you’ll find Cades Cove. It’s an area lush with history, wildlife and some of the most beautiful views you’ll find in the park. An expert guide will take you on a memorable and educational experience perfect for a day tour.
Whether you’re a regular visitor to Cades Cove or this is your first time, there’s always something new to learn or see. Discover the history of the Cove and share in the personal stories of its people. You’ll also learn about the ecology, flora and wildlife of the region.
A tour through Cades Cove will offer you a rare chance to turn off your phone and reconnect with nature in one of the Smokies’ most popular spots. Take a journey into the past as you explore the lives of those who once lived in the Cove and witness its natural wonders in the flora and fauna that grow there.
Make sure you bring your camera!
Experience the Star of Knoxville and Enjoy an Authentic Tennessee Riverboat Cruise!
Thursday, June 25, 2020 – Dinner Cruise – Tickets: $55 each person
Time: Riverboat loads at 5:30 pm (Free Trolley takes you to the docks)
Address: 300 Neyland Dr, Knoxville, TN 37902
This authentic paddle wheeler is United States Coast Guard approved for 235 passengers. The main deck seats 144 passengers and is fully enclosed, air conditioned, and heated for year-round comfort. The vessel is equipped with two (2) bars, a dance floor, band stage, and is exquisitely decorated for the most elegant dinner and entertainment available. Relax on a 2 hour cruise while enjoying a dinner buffet.
THE HISTORIC TENNESSEE RIVER
The Tennessee River is one of the most beautiful rivers you will ever cruise. While cruising, you will enjoy one of the most breathtaking views in Knoxville. Not only will you see some of the history of the river, you will most certainly be relaxed by the river’s beauty.
TENNESSEE RIVERBOAT STAFF
The riverboat is licensed by the United States Coast Guard and conforms to the rigid requirements for passenger safety. All of our captains and deckhands are trained in firefighting, CPR and safety procedures. Our reservationist, sales staff, food and beverage staff and wait staff are fully trained in providing quality customer service. We take pride in providing friendly service and will ensure all your needs are met.
Biltmore Estate Bus Tour (includes Home, Gardens, and Winery) - Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Tickets: $109 each person (includes bus transportation to and from Knoxville Convention Center, Buffet Lunch, and admission to the Biltmore Estate).
Time: 7:30 am – 6:30 pm
Tour departs the Knoxville Convention Center at 7:30 am and returns to Knoxville at approximately 6:30 pm.
Welcome to Biltmore Estate in Beautiful Asheville, NC
Completed in 1895, George Vanderbilt’s 250-room chateau is as impressive today as it was more than a century ago. Biltmore House is truly a wonder of architecture and hospitality. As our guest, you’re invited to enjoy a self-guided tour of the house, as well as the beautiful gardens and grounds surrounding it, which were designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
Experience America’s Largest Home®, as magnificent today as it was more than a century ago. Your self-guided house visit spans three floors and the basement of the luxurious family home of George and Edith Vanderbilt. Explore the stories of the Vanderbilt family, their guests, and employees through displays of vintage clothing, accessories, art, furniture, and more.
Get a close look at original art by Pierre-Auguste Renoir and John Singer Sargent. Behold magnificent 16th century tapestries, a Library with 10,000 volumes, a Banquet Hall with a 70-foot ceiling, 65 fireplaces, an indoor pool, and a bowling alley. Almost all of the priceless objects you see throughout the house are from George and Edith Vanderbilt’s original collection.
Stroll acres of formal and informal gardens designed by America’s foremost landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. From the beauty of the Italian Garden to the majesty of America’s first managed forest, Biltmore’s breathtaking landscapes and gardens serve as a living tribute to Olmsted’s genius.
Taste of the South Lunch Buffet at the Deerpark Restaurant
Included with your tour is lunch at the Deerpark Restaurant. You will enjoy mouth-watering southern cuisine served buffet-style in a peaceful setting with plenty of rustic charm and lovely views. Deerpark Restaurant received the 2018 Diner’s Choice Award for OpenTable’s Top 100 Best Brunch and Buffet.
Social Gatherings
Friday, June 26 - Grand Opening Reception
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Ballroom EFG
Friday, June 26 - GRAND songSLAM
Time: 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Ballroom ABC
We are excited to have Sparks and Wiry Cries at the conference to collaborate with NATS on the first ever Grand SongSLAM? What is a SongSLAM? It is a unique event for emerging composer/performer teams to premiere new art song. In the poetry-slam tradition, audience members vote on their favorite performances, and cash prizes are awarded. Be in the room when teams from across the country who have written new art song especially for this event present their work. Vote on your favorite and determine the prize winners! Better yet you can also visit the teams at the booth in the exhibit hall and purchase their works.
Friday, June 26 - Late Night NATS: A Cabaret Performance by authors of So You Want to Sing Cabaret
Time: 10:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Location: Lecture Hall
End the evening with a Cabaret Performance led by authors of So You Want to Sing Cabaret.
Saturday June 27 - NATS Leadership Luncheon
This event is by invitation only.
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: 301 DE
This event is for all NATS Board of Directors, Foundation Board Officers, and all NATS District Governors and Chapter Presidents. This event is an important opportunity for chapter and district leadership to receive training in how NATS works as well as to provide input to national leaders and staff on the work of NATS. This will be your opportunity to network with other officers, ask questions, and learn!
Saturday, June 27 - President's Reception
This event is by invitation only.
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: 301 DE
Monday, June 29 - Intern Program Reunion
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Grand Pavilion Ballroom - Holiday Inn
Presider: Linda J. Snyder, Immediate Past President and Director of Intern Program
This event is an opportunity for all those who have participated in past Intern Program events to gather together and catch up with one another. All past interns and master teachers are encouraged to attend. Everyone is encouraged to bring a lunch to the meeting; NATS will provide a drink and dessert.
Sunday June 28 - NATSrocksKNOX
Time: 9:30-11:30 PM
Sponsored by VoiceLessons.com
We are excited that, as part of the NATS National Conference in Knoxville, we will have a wonderful evening of entertainment featuring NATS members and students of NATS members in several live music venues in downtown Knoxville. Spread the word with the hashtag #NATSrocksKNOX. For more information and to apply to be part of this evening, click here.
Monday, June 29 - SNATS Chapters and Students Gathering
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 
Location: Grand Pavilion Ballroom - Holiday Inn
This will be an opportunity for all SNATS members and their advisers to get together to network, ask questions and talk about future plans for their chapters. Attendees will need to bring a lunch, and NATS will provide a drink and dessert. Presided by Alison Feldt, Vice President for Outreach.
Monday, June 29 - Gala Celebration Banquet
Time: 7:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Location: Ballroom ABC - additional ticket purchase required to attend
Come join us for our Gala Celebration Banquet featuring the presentation of the NATS Lifetime Achievement Award, a dinner buffet and dancing! Presiding: Karen Brunssen, NATS President.
Recitals
Friday, June 26 - Competition Winners Concert
Time: 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Ballroom ABC
Our opening afternoon will feature performances by winners of our 2020 national competitions, including NATS Artist Awards winner Matt Hill and National Music Theater Competition winner Lauren Carr.
Saturday, June 27 - Featured Guest Artist: Ana María Martínez
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Tennessee Theater(offsite) - additional ticket purchase required to attend
The Grammy Award® winner will appear in concert, teach a master class and lead a talk/Q&A session.
Sunday, June 28 - Art Song Composition Award Concert
2019 Art Song Composition Winner: Elemental Earth by Philip Lasser
2020 Art Song Composition Winner: Here, Bullet by Kurt Erickson - Performed by Andre Chiang, baritone
Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Ballroom ABC
Competition Finals
Sunday, June 28 - National Student Auditions Finals
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 
Location: Lecture Hall
42 singers from around the world will advance to national semifinal and final rounds
Other Special Events
Thursday, June 25 - NATS College Showcase
Time: 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Grand Pavilion Ballroom - Holiday Inn (Drawing for prizes at 6:45 p.m.)
Our NATS College Showcase will feature dozens of schools showcasing their undergraduate and graduate programs. There’s no better time for students – as well as parents and teachers – to learn more about what these colleges and universities have to offer. Plus: Join us for a drawing for prizes at 6:45 p.m.!
