Deborah Conquest

The National Association of Teachers of Singing is pleased to announce that Deborah Conquest has been named associate editor of Inter Nos, the association’s semiannual newsletter.

Conquest will coordinate and edit the “Independent Voices” section, which highlights the work of independent teachers. She will begin the role starting with the spring 2026 issue and succeeds Cynthia Vaughn, who led “Independent Voices” for the past decade.

“For the past 10 years, since fall 2016, I have edited or written 94 articles and columns by and for independent voice teachers — yes, I counted!” Vaughn said. “I firmly believe that if we have been given opportunities to lead and create, at a certain point we are obligated to share that opportunity — to pay it forward, to step aside and let someone else take our place. I recommended Deborah Conquest as the next associate editor for ‘Independent Voices’ and she graciously accepted. I know she will do a terrific job.”

Conquest is a familiar name to many. She has contributed several articles to the “Independent Voices” section of past issues and referred fellow teachers to write for the newsletter. A longtime NATS member based in Rochester, New York, she runs Conquest Voice Studio, where she trains singing actors from around the world. She is a past recipient of the Joan Boytim Independent Teacher Award and alumnus of the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and SUNY Fredonia.

“Deborah brings a strong editorial voice and deep connection to the independent teaching community,” said NATS Executive Director Allen Henderson. “Her leadership will help us continue to spotlight the innovative and meaningful work happening in independent studios across the membership. We’re also incredibly grateful for Cynthia Vaughn’s decade of service and dedication to Inter Nos and to NATS.”

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Conquest describes herself as a lover of hiking, rockabilly, competitive powerlifting, houseplants, and chocolate cake — “not necessarily in that order.” She shares insights and stories on her blog at conquestvoicestudio.com and aspires to one day write her memoirs entirely in haiku. Fun fact: she began her performance career as the “Ivory Snow Baby” and became a SAG-AFTRA member at just six months old.

“I’m deeply honored to step into the role of associate editor of Inter Nos ‘Independent Voices,’ and I accept that responsibility with gratitude and purpose,” Conquest said. “Independent voice teachers often work in quiet corners, shaping lives with creativity, intuition, and grit. I know what it means to build a studio from scratch, to lose my footing and find it again, to do meaningful work that so often goes unseen. Teaching can be deeply fulfilling, and at times, quietly isolating.

“In honoring the rich heritage of NATS and particularly that of Inter Nos, I aim to amplify voices too often overlooked, celebrate the depth and artistry of those forging their own paths, and reflect the full, messy, beautiful truth of our work,” she adds. “Together, through Inter Nos, we honor our shared journey — lifting each other’s voices so they may resonate into the wider world, far from the solitary spaces where our work begins.”