Kayla Gautereaux

Congratulations to Kayla Gautereaux, the 2023 recipient of the NATS Voice Pedagogy Award. The $500 prize is awarded annually to a candidate who is a member of NATS, for the purpose of study at a seminar or workshop on voice pedagogy and/or voice science.

An educator and researcher at Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music, Gautereaux will apply the award money to her attendance at the 2023 Voice Foundation Symposium, May 31 through June 4, in Philadelphia. She is presenting her research on the impact of bra-band tightness on respiration for singing and is a co-author on two other presentations at the Symposium.

“This year’s field of NATS Pedagogy Award applicants was very strong and made selection a very difficult task,” said NATS President Diana Allan. “I congratulate 2023 Voice Pedagogy Award recipient, Kayla Gautereaux, for her research, her collaboration with and mentorship of graduate students, and her acceptance to present at this year’s Voice Foundation Symposium.”

Gautereaux appreciates that this award will support her professional development by helping to defray some of the costs of attending and presenting at the symposium this summer.

“My sincere thanks to those who have donated their funds and time to NATS to initiatives like this,” Gautereaux said. “Additional gratitude for Boston Conservatory at Berklee and voice chair, Isaí Jess Muñoz, for supporting this research and funding additional conference costs. I am grateful to my collaborators on research projects for the Voice Foundation, Lauren Guthridge, Ian Howell, and Joshua Glasner. 

Gautereaux is passionate about advancing the field of voice pedagogy and helping her students realize their potential. Four of her voice pedagogy students from Boston Conservatory at Berklee are presenting their research at the symposium’s poster session. She notes that these students also serve as founding members of the new Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music SNATS Chapter.

Gautereaux earned her master’s degree in vocal pedagogy from New England Conservatory and her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from San Diego State University.

Congratulations, Kayla!

About Kayla Gautereaux

Kayla Gautereaux joined the Boston Conservatory faculty in 2022. She teaches history of vocal pedagogy and guides the M.F.A. in musical theater vocal pedagogy students through the dissertation process, in which they learn to translate their creative curiosity into systematic investigation, coherent writing, and persuasive presentations. Her graduated students are change-makers, holding voice faculty and research positions at New England Conservatory (NEC), Berklee College of Music, Fort Lewis College, Rockford University, and others.

On the voice faculty at Berklee College of Music and in her private teaching studio, Gautereaux is an evidence-based, identity-affirming voice teacher. Collaboratively exploring the cutting edge of vocal pedagogy with her voice students, her experience spans an array of unique areas, such as teaching transgender students, partnering with professional choir directors, and working with medical professionals to restore singers in rehabilitative voice care. She serves on the governance committee of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Boston Chapter, the advisory committee for the National Vice President of Outreach, centering programming and policies on IDEA-affirming practices, and advisor for the new Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music SNATS Chapter. Gautereaux previously was assistant vocal pedagogy director as well as voice and sound analysis lab manager at New England Conservatory. In 2021, she was honored with a Board of Trustees Award “in recognition of the remarkable energy and work to propel NEC forward with rigor and imagination, keeping NEC’s community safe through the COVID-19 pandemic, advancing the institutional mission, and ensuring students received an education of excellence, even in extraordinary times.” Gautereaux earned a master’s degree in vocal pedagogy from New England Conservatory and a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from San Diego State University.

Learn more information about the NATS Voice Pedagogy Award and view the list of past award recipients. The annual application deadline is February 15 of the year in which the proposed seminar will take place.