February 2018
Perhaps we should petition for a big holiday at the end of February. Some excuse to lighten up the darkness, gather together, and de-stress the atmosphere. Since we don’t have such a holiday, we each keep our noses to the grindstone or pay a lot of money to experience mid-winter break someplace sunny and warm. Ah well, that is the price we pay for living in this NW paradise. For now, my joy is in looking toward the future and celebrating friends’ accomplishments. To that end, this newsletter is about celebration and the future for our NATS Region.
NATS Chats
Dr. Kari Ragan (UW Seattle) hosts a fascinating monthly event for NATS – the NATS chat. I’ve heard from many of you how much you look forward to these. You can attend live online, real-time discussions or watch them later on YouTube or read the transcripts. Kari does a great job and the guests are always fascinating. Many independent teachers will be excited about the next one, Shannon Coates on “Teaching Very Young Singers" https://www.nats.org/nats-chat.html
Inter Nos
Honorary NW Region member, Cynthia Vaughn (she lives and teaches in Pascoe, WA which is in the Intermountain Region) is the editor for the independent teacher portion of Inter Nos. The publication comes out twice a year by email, and is available with log-in at https://www.nats.org/cgi/page.cgi/inter-nos.html
Cynthia is always eager to accept content for independent teachers, especially if it comes from our region.
National Student Auditions (NSA)
The regional video submission deadline is around the corner. I highly advise you and your students to submit early, especially this year when we are using the national software for the first time. Submitting early means you give the screeners (me and Hsin Yi) time to catch any YouTube problems or rep issues before it is too late to correct them.
All teachers who submit singers will be required to adjudicate. This can take a few hours and must happen in mid-March. Contact Hsin Yi with any questions: hsinyilin2010@gmail.com
NATS Hall Johnson Spirituals Competition
The biennial NATS Hall Johnson Spirituals Competition is also being held now. Video submissions are due to the region by March 10th. This event is for undergrads and is in its second year. We anticipate the field of competitors will be very small. Find details at: https://www.nwnats.org/hall-johnson-competition.html and email Hsin Yi for entry information.
Connecting
I want your stories! Check out our page https://www.nwnats.org/letters-from-members.html for great stories from our members over the last 9 years, and instructions about how you can add yours. This is our region – the heart of it – our lasting legacy in print.
Are you connecting with our region in our Facebook group? If not, we would love for you to join the group. It is a great place to announce your independent and academic events, ask questions, and find music for loaning. https://www.facebook.com/groups/242380525794790/
Chapter News
We have a new chapter!
Student NATS Chapter at PLU, advisor Holly Boaz. Holly sent a great write-up. Here is the start of it…
The National Association of Teachers of Singing fosters the formation of student chapters in order to advance knowledge about the Association and the professions of teaching and singing. A student NATS (SNATS) Chapter is an organization of students that can meet, hold events and discussions, participate, practice, and learn more about voice teaching as a profession.
I was first inspired to create a SNATS chapter at PLU after being invited to give a one-day workshop on yoga for singers for the Central Washington University SNATS chapter. My friend and colleague, Melissa Schiel, is the faculty advisor for their chapter, and I got to talk with her about the experience. I was so impressed by the range of activities they are organizing, from student performances to special dinners for fundraising, to trips off campus to performances, to voting to invite experts to their campus for special workshops and master classes. And there were SO MANY interested, engaged students at the workshop who were clearly enthusiastic about their chapter. SO... thanks to Melissa and all the wonderful SNATS members at CWU, I decided we should get one going at PLU!
To read the rest, visit https://www.nwnats.org/letters-from-members.html
----------------------------
Here’s what some of our local chapters are up to. Websites for all of the local chapters can be easily found in the right hand column at https://www.nwnats.org/about-us.html
The Tahoma Chapter is looking forward to its Annual Scholarship competition on February 12th and Spring Fling Recital on April 21st. They continue to grow membership and build a strong spirit of camaraderie. In October they held a chapter lightening talk event called NATS Chats. The annual combined Student Auditions in January, organized by new Auditions Chair Colin Briskey, was highly successful with over 200 singers and included an efficient chapter meeting and luncheon.
The Puget Sound Chapter will be holding scholarship auditions this spring as well as a chapter meeting devoted to technology in the studio. They had a social in October and student auditions (youth, MT, and Art) in November.
The Vancouver Chapter is looking forward to their annual Spring Student Recital on April 22 and their annual Songfest competition on May 5-6. They had a very popular fall workshop on mic technique, which drew many people from outside of the chapter.
The Victoria Chapter held a Teachers’ Wellness Retreat on Feb. 11, with a day that included sessions in yoga, Feldenkrais and Zen Meditation. In fall 2018, they hope to host a guest teacher for a presentation and masterclass.
District News
District Governors have been tasked by the national board with taking on a big role in membership. You will find your District Governors to be an excellent resource for all of your membership concerns. They also do a great job of serving as advisors to the Regional Governor. Their contact information is available at https://www.nwnats.org/about-us.html
Our District Governors are:
Regional News
Marieke Schuurs is our regional governor elect. She will take office on June 26th, and at that time I will step into the position of national VP for Membership. Marieke has done an exemplary job of preparing herself for this position, involving herself in every aspect of the job for the last year, and getting to know many of you at the last two regional conferences.
Leischen Moore, our regional treasurer, has agreed to stay on with Marieke for her first term. We are working together on budget and planning. We believe it will be a seamless transition.
Hsin Yi Lin will also stay on as the Auditions Chair. She is doing an amazing job with this challenging position (while also managing her studio and newborn daughter). I am so grateful to Marieke, Leischen, and Hsin Yi for their skills and dedication.
National Request
Nationals, in putting together what is expected to be the biggest NATS conference ever, and seeking more sponsors, more advertisers, more exhibitors and more volunteers to support this monumental event. We are asking for your help to get the word out to your colleagues, universities, regions, chapters and individuals that we need their participation for our 55th National Conference and the start of our 75th Anniversary Celebration. Email Deborah Guess for information: deborah@nats.org
Thank you for reading all the way to the end! See you in Vegas? 55th NATS National Conference, June 22 - 26, 2018
Sincerely,
Nancy Bos
NATS NW Regional Governor
Perhaps we should petition for a big holiday at the end of February. Some excuse to lighten up the darkness, gather together, and de-stress the atmosphere. Since we don’t have such a holiday, we each keep our noses to the grindstone or pay a lot of money to experience mid-winter break someplace sunny and warm. Ah well, that is the price we pay for living in this NW paradise. For now, my joy is in looking toward the future and celebrating friends’ accomplishments. To that end, this newsletter is about celebration and the future for our NATS Region.
NATS Chats
Dr. Kari Ragan (UW Seattle) hosts a fascinating monthly event for NATS – the NATS chat. I’ve heard from many of you how much you look forward to these. You can attend live online, real-time discussions or watch them later on YouTube or read the transcripts. Kari does a great job and the guests are always fascinating. Many independent teachers will be excited about the next one, Shannon Coates on “Teaching Very Young Singers" https://www.nats.org/nats-chat.html
Inter Nos
Honorary NW Region member, Cynthia Vaughn (she lives and teaches in Pascoe, WA which is in the Intermountain Region) is the editor for the independent teacher portion of Inter Nos. The publication comes out twice a year by email, and is available with log-in at https://www.nats.org/cgi/page.cgi/inter-nos.html
Cynthia is always eager to accept content for independent teachers, especially if it comes from our region.
National Student Auditions (NSA)
The regional video submission deadline is around the corner. I highly advise you and your students to submit early, especially this year when we are using the national software for the first time. Submitting early means you give the screeners (me and Hsin Yi) time to catch any YouTube problems or rep issues before it is too late to correct them.
All teachers who submit singers will be required to adjudicate. This can take a few hours and must happen in mid-March. Contact Hsin Yi with any questions: hsinyilin2010@gmail.com
NATS Hall Johnson Spirituals Competition
The biennial NATS Hall Johnson Spirituals Competition is also being held now. Video submissions are due to the region by March 10th. This event is for undergrads and is in its second year. We anticipate the field of competitors will be very small. Find details at: https://www.nwnats.org/hall-johnson-competition.html and email Hsin Yi for entry information.
Connecting
I want your stories! Check out our page https://www.nwnats.org/letters-from-members.html for great stories from our members over the last 9 years, and instructions about how you can add yours. This is our region – the heart of it – our lasting legacy in print.
Are you connecting with our region in our Facebook group? If not, we would love for you to join the group. It is a great place to announce your independent and academic events, ask questions, and find music for loaning. https://www.facebook.com/groups/242380525794790/
Chapter News
We have a new chapter!
Student NATS Chapter at PLU, advisor Holly Boaz. Holly sent a great write-up. Here is the start of it…
The National Association of Teachers of Singing fosters the formation of student chapters in order to advance knowledge about the Association and the professions of teaching and singing. A student NATS (SNATS) Chapter is an organization of students that can meet, hold events and discussions, participate, practice, and learn more about voice teaching as a profession.
I was first inspired to create a SNATS chapter at PLU after being invited to give a one-day workshop on yoga for singers for the Central Washington University SNATS chapter. My friend and colleague, Melissa Schiel, is the faculty advisor for their chapter, and I got to talk with her about the experience. I was so impressed by the range of activities they are organizing, from student performances to special dinners for fundraising, to trips off campus to performances, to voting to invite experts to their campus for special workshops and master classes. And there were SO MANY interested, engaged students at the workshop who were clearly enthusiastic about their chapter. SO... thanks to Melissa and all the wonderful SNATS members at CWU, I decided we should get one going at PLU!
To read the rest, visit https://www.nwnats.org/letters-from-members.html
----------------------------
Here’s what some of our local chapters are up to. Websites for all of the local chapters can be easily found in the right hand column at https://www.nwnats.org/about-us.html
The Tahoma Chapter is looking forward to its Annual Scholarship competition on February 12th and Spring Fling Recital on April 21st. They continue to grow membership and build a strong spirit of camaraderie. In October they held a chapter lightening talk event called NATS Chats. The annual combined Student Auditions in January, organized by new Auditions Chair Colin Briskey, was highly successful with over 200 singers and included an efficient chapter meeting and luncheon.
The Puget Sound Chapter will be holding scholarship auditions this spring as well as a chapter meeting devoted to technology in the studio. They had a social in October and student auditions (youth, MT, and Art) in November.
The Vancouver Chapter is looking forward to their annual Spring Student Recital on April 22 and their annual Songfest competition on May 5-6. They had a very popular fall workshop on mic technique, which drew many people from outside of the chapter.
The Victoria Chapter held a Teachers’ Wellness Retreat on Feb. 11, with a day that included sessions in yoga, Feldenkrais and Zen Meditation. In fall 2018, they hope to host a guest teacher for a presentation and masterclass.
District News
District Governors have been tasked by the national board with taking on a big role in membership. You will find your District Governors to be an excellent resource for all of your membership concerns. They also do a great job of serving as advisors to the Regional Governor. Their contact information is available at https://www.nwnats.org/about-us.html
Our District Governors are:
- AK – Kate Egan
- BC – Melanie Adams
- WA – Erin Guinup
- OR – Marieke Schuurs
Regional News
Marieke Schuurs is our regional governor elect. She will take office on June 26th, and at that time I will step into the position of national VP for Membership. Marieke has done an exemplary job of preparing herself for this position, involving herself in every aspect of the job for the last year, and getting to know many of you at the last two regional conferences.
Leischen Moore, our regional treasurer, has agreed to stay on with Marieke for her first term. We are working together on budget and planning. We believe it will be a seamless transition.
Hsin Yi Lin will also stay on as the Auditions Chair. She is doing an amazing job with this challenging position (while also managing her studio and newborn daughter). I am so grateful to Marieke, Leischen, and Hsin Yi for their skills and dedication.
National Request
Nationals, in putting together what is expected to be the biggest NATS conference ever, and seeking more sponsors, more advertisers, more exhibitors and more volunteers to support this monumental event. We are asking for your help to get the word out to your colleagues, universities, regions, chapters and individuals that we need their participation for our 55th National Conference and the start of our 75th Anniversary Celebration. Email Deborah Guess for information: deborah@nats.org
Thank you for reading all the way to the end! See you in Vegas? 55th NATS National Conference, June 22 - 26, 2018
Sincerely,
Nancy Bos
NATS NW Regional Governor