A vibrant exchange of musical ideas has been brewing since this past fall when NATS paired 12 emerging composers with established art song composers for the 2024-25 NATS Mentoring Program for Composers.

Now in its fifth consecutive season, the mentorship program nurtures early-career art song composers, the creation of new works, and a sense of community. Running from October to June, each mentee-mentor pair meets about once a month online. A big focus of the program is on setting text for voice, however, mentors often provide additional guidance on resources, performances opportunities, and options for recording and publishing. The mentors serve as sounding boards, helping answer questions mentees may have about the industry and art form. There is no cost for composers to apply or participate.

Noted composers of works for voice Lori Laitman and Tom Cipullo serve as co-advisors, and both also participate as mentors. A season highlight is the NATS-commissioned song from each mentee that is premiered by the Cincinnati Song Initiative for the “Let It Be New” concerts. The streaming concert will be held this June with final details to be announced. Past program mentees have had opportunities to share their pieces at various NATS events at the chapter, regional, and national levels.

As the 2024-25 program crosses the halfway point, participants are sharing how grateful they are for their mentors’ guidance and encouragement.

Max Eidinoff, paired with mentor Lori Laitman, has specifically appreciated learning about building meaningful collaborations in opera, publishing scores, and self-promotion strategies.

“It has been wonderful meeting and working with Lori,” he says. “She has shared so many important insights with me about working in the industry

Similarly, mentee Josh Fishbein describes working with his mentor, Tom Cipullo, as “an absolute joy” and is pleased about the valuable professional connections he has gained.

Sophie Kastner notes that working with a mentor has “brought back structure” to her artistic practice after completing her master’s degree.

“Having someone to provide feedback and help enforce goals is invaluable,” she says.

Mentee Danika Lorèn calls the mentorship experience “lovely.”

“Lori is so great with feedback and finding time to answer all of my questions,” Lorèn says. “I feel very supported by her.”

Several of the mentees are quick to point out how distinct the program is in the field of composition.

“There aren’t many opportunities out there for emerging art song and vocal music composers,” Kastner says. “Working with a composer who is specifically focused on vocal music, is a very special opportunity and very unique to this program.”

Sam Wu has had a “fantastic experience” with his mentor Jeffrey Mumford.

“I've always wanted to write an art song setting an English text, as well as collaborate with a living poet,” Wu adds. “I'm delighted to have achieved both through this program.”

Raphael Fusco, paired with mentor Scott Wheeler, values how this NATS program provides a network where composers with a shared passion for art song can connect.

“To feel part of this vibrant, diverse community is empowering and inspiring,” he says. “As an expat, I often feel removed from the American music scene. To reconnect with artists back home is very meaningful. I would absolutely recommend the program to other composers of vocal music.”

For the mentors, working with emerging composers has proven to be equally rewarding.

“I'm having a great time getting to meet two extremely talented early-career artists,” says Tom Cipullo, mentor to Nicole Knorr and Joshua Fishbein. “Their concerns and questions are timely and provocative, and I am so impressed with the music they write.”

Mentor Scott Wheeler finds value both musically and professionally in connecting with mentees and fellow mentors, saying, “We all learn from each other.”

Lori Laitman echoes these sentiments.

“I’m delighted and grateful that my colleagues have been so generous with their time and knowledge,” she says. “It’s a great way for different generations of composers to connect and to build community. It’s so interesting to discover how everyone’s process differs, and I truly appreciate the willingness of my mentees to share their music at each stage.”

Jeffrey Mumford describes his experience as “quite engaging” and praises his mentee Sam Wu for starting with “an excellent piece to begin with.”

Steven Mark Kohn, mentor to Rachel Fogarty, is enjoying all of it.

“It is very satisfying to dig into a creative project with an enthusiastic and talented artist,” he says. “The sharing of ideas, the mutual regard for the work, the camaraderie, such great fun.

He points out that it’s rare to have the opportunity to engage with fellow artists in such a close and beneficial way.

“Talking about art, form, harmony, rhythm, vocal setting, storytelling, as good as it gets!”

Mentor Laura Schwendinger says the program is “fantastic,” and is serving for her second year in a row. Like her fellow mentors, she looks forward to hearing the new works and experiencing what this gifted group art song composers has created for this program and the future.

“The mentees show an enthusiasm for the art of text setting that will in turn inspire them as they too become mentors to the next generation of art songs composers,” she explains. “I have very much enjoyed getting to know these very talented composers!”

As mentees prepare for the second half of the program, many look forward to collaborating as they put the finishing touches on their songs and rehearse with performers.

“I am looking forward to workshopping my piece along with getting to know the pieces of my fellow cohort members,” says Ty Bloomfield.

Michael Mills, paired with mentor Juhi Bansal, shares this enthusiasm.

“I think there is a lot of room for collaboration in the process of taking music from its written form into a performance,” he says.

Anthony Patterson says in addition to the “incredible experience” he’s had working with mentor Stephen Eddins, he’s eagerly anticipating the rehearsal process and that moment with the song “finally comes to life.”

“The collaborative process is my favorite aspect of being a composer,” says mentee Sam Wu.

While Sophie Kastner’s favorite part of writing a new piece is the rehearsal and workshopping process too, she’s particularly pleased about the high-quality recording that will come from the program.

“I am delighted that part of this program pairs you with a vocalist and allows for a working relationship between singer and composer,” she says. “It's also a great opportunity for professional development, as you leave the program with a professional performance that is professionally recorded — a wonderful addition to an emerging composer’s portfolio.”

The final presentations of the commissioned works are sure to be a highlight for both mentees and mentors, as well as all who enjoy new music.

Laitman perfectly sums it up.

“I can’t wait to see the final compositions!”

* Stay tuned for more details on the streaming concert in June. *

2024-25 Mentee and Mentor Pairs:

Supporting the next generation of composers

NATS is proud to offer programming that supports rising composers of new art song. In addition to the Mentoring Program for Composers, NATS offers an annual Art Song Composition Award. This year, in an anonymous adjudication process, NATS named current mentee Raphael Fusco the 2025 first-prize winner for his song cycle, Love Songs from a Third Floor Walk-Up, featuring text by Caitlin Vincent.

Submissions for the 2026 NATS Art Song Composition Award open June 1, 2025, with a deadline of December 1, 2025. The competition awards over $3,000 in prizes, and is led by Carol Mikkelsen, coordinator, and Lori Laitman, advisor.

NATS also invites supporters to commission one of the 12 songs for the “Let It Be New” concert this June. A $600 gift provides the opportunity to honor a loved one, friend, or mentee with a personal inscription. Commissioning a new work is a meaningful way to create a lasting tribute.

For additional information or questions about supporting this program with a donation, please contact NATS Development Director Jen Jimenez at jen@nats.org.