The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) is thrilled to announce the selection of 16 individuals to take part in its prestigious 2024 NATS Intern Program.

Designed to enrich the skills of early-career voice teachers and collaborative pianists, this immersive program pairs participants with veteran master teachers who serve as mentors. The intensive format fosters a dynamic exchange of ideas and techniques, ensuring that attendees walk away with enhanced teaching and coaching skills.

Representing eight NATS regions — Central, Great Lakes, New England, Northwestern, Southeastern, Southern, Texoma, and West Central — the 2024 class is made up of 12 voice teachers (both independent and academic) as well as four collaborative pianists.

Master teachers Alfonse Anderson (University of Nevada, Las Vegas), Melissa Foster (Northwestern University), Mike Ruckles (Mike Ruckles Voice Studio), and Louise Toppin (University of Michigan) will guide the voice intern participants. The collaborative piano interns will have the opportunity to work with pianist Donna Loewy (University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music).

L to R: Alfonse Anderson, Melissa Foster, Donna Loewy, Mike Ruckles, and Louise Toppin

Carole Blankenship, director of the 2024 NATS Intern Program and past president of NATS, expressed her enthusiasm for the outstanding class of interns, noting their diverse backgrounds and contributions to the field.

“We’re delighted to welcome this outstanding group of early career voice teachers and collaborative artists to the 2024 NATS Intern Program,” Blankenship said. “Hailing from independent studios, high school settings, and college programs, these active performers and scholars will join together to exchange ideas and learn from the distinguished Master Teachers. This group is already making significant contributions to our field. They teach and coach in a variety of styles and genres, including art song, bel canto, commercial music, musical theatre, music of classical Latinx, spirituals and so much more. They’re also making an impact through their voice and historical research, performance, conducting, advocacy, and by serving NATS. We’re eager to weave together the unique perspectives of these teachers, performers, and scholars to be part of the rich tapestry of the 33-year legacy that is the NATS Intern Program.”

From May 29 through June 6, the group will convene on the campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Marcía Porter of Florida State University is the local, on-site coordinator, and Tana Field of Murray State University is the vocal literature liaison.

NATS interns often reunite at the biennial NATS conference to foster and maintain the close professional bond they develop in the program. The upcoming 2024 NATS national conference in Knoxville will feature an intern reunion event. Since its inception in 1991, the NATS Intern Program alumni network has grown to more than 300 voice-teaching professionals.

NATS Intern Program – Class of 2024

COLLABORATIVE PIANO

• Hyun Kim – Kansas City, Missouri
• Jiyeon Lee – Carbondale, Illinois
• Dario Martin – Fairbanks, Alaska
• Bobby Pace – Chadron, Nebraska

VOICE

• Kirsten Blair – Fairbanks, Alaska
• Natalie Cummings – Austin, Texas
• Sakinah Davis – River Ridge, Louisiana
• Brittany Fouché Strine – Jacksonville, Florida
• Christina Haldane – Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
• Christina Ray – Columbia, Missouri
• Carissa Scroggins – Carbondale, Illinois
• Anne Slovin – South Bend, Indiana
• Justin T. Swain – Athens, Ohio
• WeiShu Tsai – Ruston, Louisiana
• Sarah VandenBrink – Holland, Michigan
• Lisa Williamson – Colchester, Connecticut

About the NATS Intern Program

The NATS Intern Program offers an exceptional training experience to improve the teaching skills of interns and foster independent relationships necessary for providing the best instruction. This format encourages a dynamic exchange of ideas and techniques, with the goal of improving 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 2025 program will be available in late summer 2024.

Support of the NATS Intern Program

The program is offered at no cost to interns thanks to generous support from NATS and donations from several funds and grants, including 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 the NATS office at 904-992-9101. Schools or facilities interested in coordinating/hosting a future NATS Intern Program can contact the NATS past president for details and facility requirements.