In 2020, the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) launched “This Will Be Our Response: Voices of COVID-19.” The project chronicles the response of those in the vocal arts community to the pandemic. This week, the project crossed the milestone of more than 50 published interviews.

Singer, doctoral student and NATS member Timothy Bostwick began curating this collection of interviews, stories and first-hand accounts from professionals across the singing industry nearly one year ago. He has interviewed a wide range of people in the performing arts — agents, singers, opera companies, casting directors, stage managers and composers.

To commemorate this milestone and to draw attention to these stories, NATS created this short video with all participants to date – ranging from composer Jake Heggie to groups like Artist Relief Tree and artists such as Angel Blue.

↓ Watch video below. ↓ 

“The arts are essential,” Bostwick said. “But when the pandemic began, the vocal performing arts was silenced. So, for those who wished to tell their stories and provide catharsis to our world, I felt it was my duty to amplify their voices. To do so, I have spent the last year documenting the experiences and views of devastation wrought by COVID-19. In supporting this effort, the National Association of Teachers of Singing has provided a free and public platform for this archive. It is our shared desire that ‘Voices of COVID-19’ provides hope and inspiration both now and in the future.”

NATS is encouraging everyone to share the link to the collection and the new video as a way to lift up the collective struggles, stories and demonstrated resiliency that have come from the project.

“When Tim approached me as a subject for interview for his project, I was impressed by his thoughtfulness and his desire to chronicle our journeys through the pandemic,” said Allen Henderson, NATS executive director. “Little did we know at the time that it would be such a long and arduous time for our industry. I was grateful that when I approached him about partnering with NATS to share these stories, he was amenable to creating what is now a growing chronicle of our lives during this time. NATS is proud to use our network to power the ‘Voices of COVID’ project, is glad it has reached this milestone, and looks forward to sharing many more stories as we continue this journey together.”

NATS releases “Voices of COVID” interviews in its free Intermezzo newsletter each week. Sign up to receive the newsletter.

View the entire “Voices of COVID” collection.