from Inter Nos - Fall 2025 Newsletter

by National Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc.

Save the Date Lift Your Voices in Support of NATS Annual Day of Giving on November 18

Above: Winners of the 2025 NATS Intern Program cohort photo contest

Editor’s Note: The 2025 NATS Intern Program was held May 20-30, 2025, on the campus of the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky, with 16 interns. The 2025 master teachers included: Justin John Moniz (NYU Steinhardt), Sandra Oberoi (Harmony-The Music School), Amelia Rollings Bigler (Coastal Carolina University) and Noel Smith (Noel Voice Studio). The collaborative piano interns worked with pianist Rachelle Jonck (Bel Canto Boot Camp).

Schedule

Each morning began with master teacher cohort observations where the Interns rotated teaching volunteer students for one another. After a full morning of teaching, the cohorts broke for a lunch break with their master teachers, engaging in meaningful discussions on different techniques and questions that came up over the course of the teaching morning. Afternoons were filled with performance classes, master teacher and intern presentations. Dinners were a chance to recharge batteries, reflect on new discoveries, and socialize with new colleagues and friends. The program culminated in a final performance given by the volunteer students. It was a joy to hear these singers and the journey they took in such a short period of time. The recital and the reception that followed was a beautiful celebration that embodied the spirit of NATS, its mission and values.

Thank you

Thank you to Past President Diana Allan for your organizational leadership of the 2025 NATS Intern Program. Thank you, Katherine Donner, Chad Sloan, and Emily Albrink Katz, for being such amazing and gracious hosts. Thank you to the donors of the NATS Intern Program who make this financially possible. Thank you to the master teachers: Justin John Moniz, Sandra Oberoi, Amelia Rollings Bigler, Noel Smith, and Rachelle Jonck for giving so generously of your time, wisdom, and expertise. And thank you to our Intern Class of 2025: Katie, Barr, Rachel Bennett, Susan Dantoni, Anna Diemer, Meredith Eib, Lesley Friend, Alexandria Hanhold, Mirim Kim, John Lindsey, Kellie Motter, Lexie Rains, Alex Ritchie, Katilyn Sanders, Grace Steiner, Laura Thomason, and Emily Venturella who represented the best and brightest early-career teachers from across our association. We are forever grateful to this amazing program, for its life-changing impact, and to the association for affording such deeply meaningful opportunities to its early career members.

Cohort and Individual Reflections

This is one of the best experiences I have had in my professional career (including my experience with opera young artist programs, residencies, and professional contracts). Thank you all for the effort, care, and thoughtfulness you invest in this program and the people you invite to participate.

— John Lindsey

I found the professional development afternoons most valuable. It was great learning from my peers in their presentations, practicing presenting myself and participating in masterclasses to see different teaching styles. This was such a great experience overall! I felt very well matched personality-wise and teaching philosophy-wise with my master teacher. All of the other interns were wonderful to talk to, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well we all bonded and got along over the 10 days. I truly feel as though I have 15 new colleagues all over the country. I’m also so grateful for the resources! I would heartily recommend this to any early career professional voice teacher.