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Message from the President
Greetings NATS Ontario members from beautiful Prince Edward County. As I write this, I can see my house that is currently undergoing massive renovations - there are no windows, doors, siding, drywall, or working water. My family spent the summer tearing down the old "summer kitchen" and gutting the remaining farmhouse to prepare to update and upgrade everything. This farm house has been in my family for a long time and I felt very fortunate to be able to do some of the work myself alongside our builder and his son. The work was dirty and heavy and hugely cathartic.
As I worked, I was reminded that singing and the teaching of singing is not unlike the process of building or rebuilding a house. With our students, we work carefully to to unveil what is under their exterior, try to support what exists naturally, and add new information where there is need. Just as my home renovations are being done to meet the demands of our modern family, so too our teaching is evolving and changing to meet the needs of the 21st Century singer.
Scrolling down through our newsletter, you will see how our members are working and evolving to meet these needs! I am so very grateful for the amount of sharing and collegiality that putting this newsletter together brings.
A few points of Chapter business
Membership renewal has just gotten started through the national office. This is our second year with the new system and I trust you have received an email with the relevant information for 2016. With our current weak Canadian dollar (and the Bank of Canada predicting it will stay at approximately $0.75 for 2016) our chapter renewal rate this year will be $27USD. With the exchange, this works out to $35 Canadian.
Registration for the upcoming NATS Chapter Auditions is up and running - you should have received two announcements from Bethany by now with links and information. Just a reminder that Auditions will be Saturday, November 21, 2015 hosted by the faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University. Thanks to Kimberly Barber and Daniel Lichti for all their help!
James McLean is also working hard on the annual recruiting fair that takes place during our audition day. Schools, summer programs, or music vendors that are interested in setting up a booth, are encouraged to be in touch with James at mclean.james8@gmail.com.
Our Chapter Auditions don't run without Donations of our members - both in time and in money. We are grateful for the the donations that we have already received and would encourage everyone to take a moment to consider what they are able to give. You can donate on-line through the paypal link on our website or you can send a cheque directly to our interim treasurer, Brooke Dufton. All donations are eligible for a tax receipt.
And finally, I would like to send out a public note of condolence to Alison Moodie whose father passed away at the beginning of the summer. Alison has been a valued member of the executive for over 4 years and I am grateful for all that she has organized for special events. Because Alison has asked for some time away from the executive, Amanda Brunk has agreed to head up and organize a social time on Friday, November 20 after our Chapter meeting. More details will be forthcoming.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to bring them to my attention. I hope to see you in November!
All the best
Elizabeth
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Notes about Auditions
I hope you all have enjoyed this wonderful extended summer we have been having and that your studios are now in full voice. Calendars are already starting to fill up with exciting opportunities for performance and professional development. No doubt some of you will have been involved in Culture Days events this past weekend and I know there are several music festivals scheduled for the fall. So please make sure your calendar includes our upcoming Student Auditions at Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo on November 21 and register your students as soon as possible. We deeply appreciate Wilfred Laurier’s generosity in hosting this event.
You will have received some e-mails this summer regarding changes to the Student Auditions regulations. The complete document can be accessed at: www.nats.org/nsaresources.html and I urge you all to download this for future reference. The goals of the NATS regulations committee were to bring more uniformity to this level of auditions, to clarify repertoire and age requirements, and to introduce some new categories. Our chapter will be implementing these changes in 2016 rather than this fall. But should you expect to have a student who might proceed to another level please double check that any changes to repertoire requirements and age levels are met. NATS will be observing the changes to the regulations for the Nationals in Chicago in 2016.
In addition to our regular Chapter Auditions, NATS Regional Auditions will be held at Western University in London on Saturday, February 27, 2016. All chapters from the Great Lakes Region are invited to participate and we really hope that our members and their students will be a major part of this event. The newly renovated Don Wright Faculty of Music will be a beautiful and welcoming venue for this exciting day. Our Regional Governor, Brian Horne, will be coordinating registration and the organization of the day but I know there will be many opportunities for you to assist with the actual proceedings. We are very grateful to the Don Wright Faculty of Music for making space for this event in a very crowded calendar of events. Let’s hope for good weather!
As you begin this new year of teaching and professional growth, it’s important to reflect on the value of the service we are providing to our students with our auditions. There are so many things competing for the attention and energy of young people today. It falls to us as educators and mentors to continue to promote these opportunities for performing for our students, not simply as competitions with prizes, but as a chance to share their gifts, to hear other students, to experience new venues and make connections. Most of all, the positive and constructive suggestions from our highly experienced and qualified membership encourage our young singers to continue to strive for excellence and commitment to this “holde Kunst”.
All best wishes,
Barbara Dunn-Prosser
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Saturday, November 21 @ Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON
REGISTRATION OPENS: September 7th
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: October 16th
Please allow yourself plenty of time - late applicants may not be considered, as I will already be learning a new system and trying to incorporate all applicants into the schedule
FEE CHANGES: Registration fee per student = $25
Official Accompanist fee per day = $60
These slight increases accommodate for the changing times - these fees have not be adjusted in over 15 years. We are still by far one of the most reasonable day-of-learning/festival for students!
UNAVAILABLE TO ADJUDICATE: Previously, teachers who submitted students, but were unavailable to adjudicate that day, have paid a fee to be excused. This fee has increased (and is based on the number of students submitted) OR teachers can provide a replacement for themselves for the day - a straight swap! This teacher does not need to be a "NATS teacher" but may not have any students entered.
Looking forward to it! Thanks for your patience in advance!
Bethany Horst
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Please donate to our Scholarship fund for our annual Student Chapter Auditions!
You can donate online via our paypal account, or by cheque:
Brooke Dufton
Treasurer, NATS Ontario
11 Elm Ave, Apt 121
Toronto ON M4W 1N2
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NATS Ontario General Meeting
Friday, November 19, 2015
Waterloo, Ontario
7:00 PM
Location TBA
More information to follow.
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In preparation for NATS Ontario Auditions in Kitchener-Waterloo, a block of rooms have been reserved at the Waterloo Inn for Friday November 20, 2015.
Single or Double Occupancy: $149.00 (regular rate is $164.00)
A third adult sharing is an additional $15.00 per night.
This rate includes breakfast at RUSHES restaurant.
For reservations online: www.waterlooinn.com
By phone: 1-800-361-4708 OR 519-884-0220
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XXIII Annual Pacific Voice Conference
Santa Clara University
I had the pleasure of attending the 23rd annual Pacific Voice Conference this fall, which included the 6th World Voice Consortium Congress. This elite delegation brings laryngologists, voice therapists, engineers and other scientists specializing in voice together to discuss their latest and most exciting research. Over 70 delegates from every continent presented papers over the 3 days on many different topics, with a focus on technological advances.
The highlights are far too many to mention, but I will highlight my personal favourites for you, with the invitation to ask me about any of them when we meet in November. I will bring my notes with me!
I especially enjoyed the presentations on the newest surgical tools for vocal surgeries, which were accompanied by detailed video footage of the procedures. They included the latest robotic advances, suture, Botox intubation and anesthesia research. An amazing new diagnostic addition to the high speed digital endoscopic view of the vocal folds is being used, including 3D views! There were new studies on the TA/CT muscle activity in varying registers of the singer which were surprising, and a new form of vocal training developed for the athletic singer having to do aerial, circus-type staging.
Other studies were looking at;
Posturotherapy/Posturology
Performance Anxiety
Effects of humming
Transgendered voice
Heavy metal technique (healthy screaming)
Audiation
Memory in singers
Gerd/LPR
Medications effect on the voice
Biofeedback
Ethics in the voice studio
More than anything, it was a reminder that we do not, nor will we ever in our lifetimes, have all the answers. Also, it was heartening to know how many voice doctors and clinicians around the world are so passionate about voice and singers. It brought home to me how important it is to stay connected to the voice team our students interact with on their journeys toward vocal excellence, and to keep informed enough to be a functioning part of that team.
Amanda Brunk
NATS Ontario Member
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Welcome NEW Members!
We are pleased to have you join us!
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The voice students at the Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western University are pleased to announce the creation of a new Student Chapter of NATS: SNATS UWO. SNATS UWO is dedicated to the promotion of vocal pedagogy, as well as career building and support for those interested in professional careers in teaching and performing.
Membership is FREE and is open to any member of the Western University community including students, faculty, staff and alumni. For more information or to join the UWO SNATS chapter please email uwo.snats@gmail.com.
Patricia Green
Faculty Advisor, Western University SNATS
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The student chapter of NATS at Wilfrid Laurier University has been busy planning the upcoming year. We held an information night, doubling as a chamber salon where everyone could perform, which brought many new and potential members out to see what we do. It was a social event where we shared our music with each other, and answered the many questions about what Snats and NATS are all about. The response was strong, and it looks like we will gain a larger membership as a result.
We are hoping to offer the same teaching master class series as last year, it having been such a success with all involved. Our first master class is booked for Monday, October 19th, when Stephanie Rothenberg, the Broadway actress currency playing Maria Von Trapp at Stratford, will be our first guest teacher on the subject of theatre singing. We plan to book 3 more classes on varying subjects before April.
We are also planning a fundraising concert for the Nats Ontario scholarship fund once more. Hopefully, we will have a nice chunk of cash to donate in the spring!
Amanda Brunk
Advisor, Student NATS chapter of WLU
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Greetings from SNATS UofT
The Fall is off to a great start here in Toronto. SNATS UofT kicked-off the school year with a membership campaign and we continue to welcome those within the UofT music community who wish to learn more about the voice and the teaching of singing. September came to a close with our Third Annual Blood Drive in Memory of Lynn Blaser, and we extend a great thank-you to Canadian Blood Services Manulife Centre and all who were able to support such a meaningful cause.
The 2015/16 academic year promises to be an exciting one! This fall we begin the process for the Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2016, building on the success of our participation in 2014. SNATS UofT will host a performance series with venues on and off campus, and we look forward to announcing the program on October 20th. Our Fourth Annual Vocal Health and Pedagogy Symposium will take place in March and encourage all (S)NATS members to participate. A call for presentations will be sent out in the New Year.
SNATS UofT would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Diane (Gibson) Nelson for her generous donation of scores and pedagogy books. With Diane’s donation we will hold a ‘Score and Book Sale’ fundraiser.
Stay tuned for more information!
Stephanie Higgins
SNATS UofT President
2015/16 Executive
President: Stephanie Higgins
Vice-President: Dann Mitton
Secretary: Sonya Harper Nyby
Interim Treasurer: Brooke Dufton
Social Media Officer: Tina Alexander
Marketing: Mathias Memmel.
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