A variety of musical styles and repertoire will be featured during the one-hour breakout sessions at the NATS National Conference in Knoxville, TN, June 26-30. In these mini recital sessions, attendees will enjoy exposure to a wide variety of literature and in some cases be introduced to new literature for use in the studio.  Presentations include music of African American women composers, Polish language for non-Polish singers, contemporary Latina Composers, LGBT literature set for voice, American composers Evan Mack and Lori Laitman, and more. There is also a lecture-recital on ornamenting Mozart arias. Dates and programs are as follows:

Saturday, June 27 at 9:00 a.m.

Reimagining "Ach, ich fühl's": A Lecture-Recital on Ornamenting Mozart Arias (Lecture Hall)
Presenters: Mutsumi Moteki, Jennifer Bird

Although it is not a common practice to ornament Mozart’s opera arias among many of today’s singers and conductors, it has been proven that singers improvised and ornamented arias in Mozart’s time. One good example is “Ach, ich fühl’s,” Pamina’s aria from Die Zauberflöte.

Saturday, June 27 at 4:00 p.m.

Mini Recital #1 – My Sister's Keeper: The Songs of African American Women Composers (Lecture Hall)
Presenters: Marcía Porter, Minnita Daniel-Cox, Alexis Davis-Hazell, Rosalyn Floyd

"My Sister’s Keeper: A performance panel highlighting art songs by African American women composers" is an outgrowth of “The world in which we live: Diversity and Inclusion in Teaching,” which was a panel session held during the 2018 NATS national conference that focused on using the vocal repertoire of various underrepresented groups to create diverse and inclusive teaching environments.

Sunday, June 28 at 9:00 a.m.

Mini Recital #2 (Lecture Hall) This session will include:

• Laura Kafka-Price and Tomasz Robak – "Singing in Polish for Non-Polish Singers: Karol Szymanowski's Rymy  dziecięce (Children's Rhymes) Op. 49 Song Cycle"
• Liliana Guerrero and Valerie M. Trujillo – Mi canción: Song Literature by Contemporary Latina Composers
• Amy Kathryn Canchola and Colleen Kilpatrick – “Para qué recordar”: Preserving the Legacy of Marìa Grever Through Selected Vocal Compositions for Study and Performance

Sunday, June 28 at 5:00 p.m.

Mini Recital #3 (Ballroom ABC) This session will include:

• Byron Jones and Karen Walker – Michael's Letter to Mama: An Iconic Passage of LGBT Literature Set for Voice and Piano
• Gretchen Windt and Karen Cantrell – Female Voices for Equality Over the Centuries: Through the Guarded Gate
• Sabrina Warren and Perry Mears – Dramatic Stories In An Intimate Setting: Exploring The Art Songs Of Rachel DeVore Fogarty

Monday, June 29 at 9:00 a.m.

Mini Recital #4 - The Secret Ocean and Preach, Sister, Preach: An Introduction to Song Literature by American Composer Evan Mack  (Lecture Hall)
Presenters: Maribeth Crawford, Katherine Jolly, Evan Mack

Composer Evan Mack is gaining critical acclaim for his opera and song compositions. Because of his successes with his operatic works, he is gaining the attention of singers that wish to perform his music in recital. For this presentation, attendees will hear the song cycle The Secret Ocean, for soprano and piano, three musical settings of poems by Mark Jarman that describe childhood, parenthood, and the link between them. Preach, Sister, Preach, features short pieces based on quotes by 13 famous women, from Lucille Ball, to Mae West, to Ellen DeGeneres.

Monday, June 29 at 4:00 p.m.

Mini Recital #5 (Lecture Hall) This session will include:

• Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk and Denise Gainey – Lori Laitman's The Secret Exit
• Tony Boutté and Zachary Wadsworth – New American Voices: Championing the American Art Song