Rick Walters

The National Association of Teachers of Singing is pleased to announce the successful endowment of the Rick Walters Award in honor of the late Rick Walters, a cherished friend of NATS, whose profound contributions to the world of vocal music publishing continue to resonate within our community.

His illustrious career at Hal Leonard spanned four decades, leaving an enduring legacy within the realm of music publishing. Beginning as a transcriber of popular sheet music, Walters rose to become the Vice President of Classical & Vocal Publications.

Among Walters’ achievements was the establishment of the Hal Leonard Vocal Competition in 2011, the industry's first all-YouTube contest for vocal students. This initiative not only earned widespread respect but also propelled numerous students into successful singing careers. His projects included the Singer’s Musical Theatre Anthology series, the Hal Leonard Vocal Library series, Schirmer Performance Editions series, and collections of music by Benjamin Britten, Samuel Barber, Stephen Sondheim, and Mel Brooks.

In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to vocal music education, NATS is pleased to name the 1st Place Prize in the Upper HS Musical Theatre TBB category in the final round of the National Student Auditions, the Rick Walters Award.

NATS would like to sincerely thank the many generous donors who made this endowment possible, particularly the many friends of Walters, for their enthusiasm and commitment to honoring his legacy. Because of their generous support, the Rick Walters Award will be awarded at the 2026 National Student Auditions final rounds in San Antonio.

In honor of his steadfast commitment to preserving and presenting essential vocal repertoire, one of the association’s generous donors has established musicforsingers.com, featuring quality repertoire for singers. A portion of proceeds from the site will go toward the Richard Walters Memorial Fund. Please visit musicforsingers.com for more information.

For questions on how you can contribute to this fund, contact NATS Development Director Jen Jimenez at (904) 586-3395 or visit our secure donation form.