The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) has chosen 16 members to take part in its 2022 Intern Program. This 10-day forum pairs experienced and recognized master teachers with talented, early-career NATS members.

The 2022 class is a varied group of 12 voice teachers (all voice types) and four collaborative pianists who represent eight NATS regions — Central, Eastern, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Mid-South, Southeastern, Texoma, and West Central.

Master teachers Barbara Hill Moore (Southern Methodist University), Scott Piper (University of Michigan), Eden Casteel (Independent Studio, RI), and Darryl Taylor (University of California, Irvine) will work with the 12 voice teachers — both independent and academic. The collaborative pianist interns will work with pianist Alan Darling (Northwestern, Bienen School of Music).

2022 Master Teachers

L to R: Barbara Hill Moore, Darryl Taylor, Alan Darling, Scott Piper and Eden Casteel.

Karen Brunssen, director of the 2022 NATS Intern Program and immediate past president of NATS, says it promises to be a “most unique” and “dynamic experience” for all involved.

“The 2022 NATS Intern Program brings so many factors together,” Brunssen explains. “It gets more and more interesting when you consider the multitude and mixture of training, background, talents, perspectives, and expertise. The breadth of repertoire will likely feature Zarzuela, Baroque, Classical, LGBTQ songs, contemporary a capella, Medieval chamber music, compositions by voice and piano interns, and barbershop tunes, among others.”

NATS organizers designed the program’s 10-day format to be an immersive experience where both interns and master teachers benefit.

“It’s fun to think about this great confluence of expertise,” Brunssen says. “We will have a wide range of interests and topics amongst this group.”

Per usual, the backgrounds of the 2022 class are impressive.

“There are singers and pianists who perform and conduct opera and musical theater, record demos of choral compositions, teach piano pedagogy, have founded an international concert series, and have experienced the thrill of collaborating with contemporary American composers,” she adds. “Yet others can tell us what it is like to grow up and study music in Australia or teach in Japan.”

The interns and master teachers will convene from May 30 -June 10 on the campus of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. Tamara Watson Harper of Georgia Southern University is serving as the local, on-site coordinator, and Tana Field of Murray State University is this year’s vocal literature liaison.

Over the years, NATS Interns have maintained close professional bonds. At the biennial NATS national conference, it is a common occurrence for past Intern Programs to gather for a reunion and catch up with one another. Since its inception in 1991, the NATS Intern Program alumni network has grown to more than 300 voice-teaching professionals.

The 2022 NATS national conference will be held at the Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile in Chicago on July 1-6. Early-bird registration ends April 1.

Class of 2022

COLLABORATIVE PIANO

• Michael Bagby — Dubuque, IA
• Jonathan Gmeinder — Chicago, IL
• Amelia Hammond — Los Angeles, CA
• John Robertson — Bessemer, AL

VOICE

• Darian Clonts — Harrison, NJ
• Wesley Dunnagan — Durango, CO
• Jeremy Gussin — Berea, OH
• Courtney Jameson — Memphis TN
• Nicole Jenkins — Harrisonburg, VA
• Sarah Luebke — Fredonia, NY
• Nicky  McGrath — Toronto, ON
• Marita Stryker — Leesburg, VA
• Madison Tarbox — Fairfax, VA
• Shayna Tayloe — Brownsville, TX
• Paulina Villarreal — Memphis, TN
• Jessica Walch — Cedar Grove, NJ

About the NATS Intern Program

The NATS Intern Program is an exceptional training experience. NATS structured the program environment to improve the teaching skills of the interns and promote the interdependent relationships necessary to provide the best instruction for students, who are often taught independently by collaborative pianists and voice teachers. This format encourages a dynamic exchange of ideas and techniques, with the goal to improve the studio teaching skills of voice interns and the coaching skills of collaborative piano interns. Learn more by watching the NATS Intern Program playlist on YouTube.

The NATS Intern Program is held annually. Application materials for the 2023 program will be available in late summer 2022.

Support of the NATS Intern Program

The program is offered at no cost to interns through generous support from NATS, and donations from the William “Bill” Vessels Endowment, the James McKinney Fund, the Barbara Doscher Fund, the NATS Intern Program Grants: Established by the 2021 Master Teachers, the Clifton Ware Group-Voice Pedagogy Award, as well as the NATS Foundation Heritage Fund.

If you are interested in making a gift to support the NATS Intern Program, please visit the online donor portal, scroll down to make a designated gift, and select “Funding for NATS Intern Program.”

Donate

You also may contact Bob Bryan at the NATS office at 904-992-9101. If your school or facility would be interested in coordinating/hosting a future NATS Intern Program, please contact the NATS past president for details and facility requirements.