The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) has named Brian Manternach as the 2024 Clifton Ware Group-Voice Pedagogy Award winner.

The annual award highlights the concept of “Class Voice” and its potential impact for singers through offerings in community, independent, and academic settings. Eligible applicants for this award are current NATS members committed to advancing this collaborative approach of learning to sing together in group settings, such as formal classes, studio sessions, workshops, and other innovative ways.

Manternach is on the voice faculty of the University of Utah, maintains an independent studio, and serves as the Utah District Governor for NATS. Manternach will receive a $750 award to support his future projects.

With the award, Manternach plans to prepare for two related studies about class voice instruction. His first project will be a literature review and analysis of practices advocated in class voice textbooks. His second project will focus on presenting this research at upcoming conferences.

NATS also presented the Clifton Ware Group-Voice Pedagogy Encouragement Award, granting $250 to Christian Morren. Morren plans to purchase group voice class materials for the free classes she teaches for people in her community regardless of their socio-economic status.

NATS congratulates Brian Manternach and Christian Morren for their positive contributions to group-voice pedagogy. The Clifton Ware Group-Voice Pedagogy Award is an annual honor, and NATS members are encouraged to apply, even if they have applied previously.

About Brian Manternach

Brian Manternach, tenor, is on the voice faculty of the University of Utah’s Department of Theatre, maintains an independent studio, and serves as Utah District NATS Governor. His students have been cast in professional productions in the USA and abroad and have earned top honors in vocal competitions from the local to international levels. A past recipient of the NATS Foundation Voice Pedagogy Award, he has presented research at national conferences for NATS and the Voice Foundation and given lectures for the National Center for Voice and Speech and TEDxSaltLakeCity. An Associate Editor of the Journal of Singing, he also authors “The Singer’s Library” book review column for Classical Singer magazine. An active performer, his degrees in voice performance include a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University/College of St. Benedict of Minnesota, an M.M. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a D.M. from Indiana University.

About Christian Morren

Christian Morren is the director of voice for Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, where she is associate professor/Lentz Endowed Professor. Previously, she served as chair and associate professor at Mid-America Christian University and directed children and handbells for the First Presbyterian Church in Norman, Oklahoma. Morren has performed as a soloist with the Santa Fe Chorale, Santa Fe Symphony, Opera Unlimited, Oklahoma City Pops Chorale, Oklahoma City Symphony, Utah Festival Opera, Tulsa Opera, and the Wyoming Symphony. She was the featured soloist and musical director for two seasons for the “Festival of Life” music festival in Catania, Italy. A two-time regional Metropolitan Opera auditions winner, Morren placed first in the Naftzger art song competition in Wichita, Kansas, where she was recognized for her outstanding singing. Her musical distinction earned her the University of Oklahoma Dame Eva Turner Award for excellence in singing and the prestigious Benton Schmidt scholarship for performance excellence. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Cameron University, a Master of Music with honors from Oklahoma City University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Oklahoma.