Drum roll, please…!

NATS will honor and celebrate the accomplishments of three outstanding people — Richard Sjoerdsma, Sharon Mabry, and Jimmy Webb — with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the NATS 57th national conference.

Sjoerdsma and Mabry will be honored at the gala celebration banquet on Sunday, July 3. NATS will present the award to Webb during his concert on Saturday, July 2.

NATS will honor Journal of Singing Editor-in-Chief Richard Sjoerdsma with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his many years of dedicated service to the association and the journal. Sjoerdsma announced he would be relinquishing his role after the 2022-2023 publication cycle concludes. At that time, he will have served in the position for 22 years. A search for his successor is in progress.

Read our recent Q&A with Sjoerdsma where he discusses some of his favorite parts of working on the journal as well as his hopes for the future of JOS.

Longtime NATS member Sharon Mabry also will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Mabry recently retired after teaching voice for 52 years at Austin Peay State University. For a quarter of a century, between 1985 and 2009, Mabry wrote a column that many NATS members will remember called “New Directions” where she discussed trends in contemporary music. Through her writings, lectures and performances, Mabry encouraged many in the field to become comfortable singing and teaching contemporary vocal music.

In recognition of her retirement, Austin Peay State University published a delightful article about Mabry’s impressive tenure and career path.

NATS will present Jimmy Webb with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of dedication to the art of songwriting and his collaborative spirit with a wide range of vocal artists.

Webb is the only artist to receive GRAMMY Awards for music, lyrics, and orchestration with songs that transcend generations and genres. Among his many timeless hits are “The Worst That Could Happen,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” “Wichita Lineman,” “Up, Up and Away” and “MacArthur Park.” In 2016, Rolling Stone magazine listed Webb as one of the top 50 songwriters of all time. At his time of induction, Webb was the youngest member ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

As a featured guest artist for the NATS 57th national conference, Webb will perform an evening of songs, share his stories, and lead the audience in singing along to a few of his top hits on Saturday, July 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile. Webb’s concert is included with full-registration; or conference attendees must purchase an additional ticket ($50 each) to go to this event.

Pack your party shoes and secure your ticket the gala celebration banquet on Sunday, July 3 at 7:30 p.m. to experience the presentation of awards, plus dinner and dancing! A cash bar will be available.

Each full registration includes one ticket to the gala banquet. Otherwise, individual banquet tickets can be purchased for $110.

Purchase tickets

Please note: These extra tickets are located under "D. Other" on the registration page.