FRIDAY, MARCH 12
1:00pm CONFERENCE BEGINS!
*Opera…from a Sistah’s Point of View
Angela Brown, soprano
Description: The myths surrounding the sometimes-intimidating art form called opera are dispelled. This performance helps people from all walks of life find themselves in and enjoy opera and leaves no doubt of the ethnic, geographic, and socio-economic diversity depicted in opera characters. Angela likes to say, “Opera is not about being a certain way, dressing a certain way, speaking a certain way. It’s about experiencing, and opera is for everyone!”
Zoom link: TBD- Live-streamed
*Co-sponsored by the NATS Eastern Region, the West Virginia District and the Central New York-Finger Lakes Chapter.
6:00pm West Virginia University School of Music Virtual Kiosk
Mario Martinez, Eastern Region Governor
Hope Koehler & William Koehler, Conference Hosts
Zoom link: TBD- Live-streamed
7:00pm *Opera…from a Sistah’s Point of View
Angela Brown, soprano
Concert Performance Reply and Live Q&A Session w. Angela Brown
Zoom link: TBD- Concert Performance Pre-recorded; Q&A Session Live-streamed
*Co-sponsored by the NATS Eastern Region, the West Virginia District and the Central New York-Finger Lakes Chapter.
8:00pm 2021 Eastern Region Conference Honoree Award Ceremony
Presenting the 2021 Eastern Region Conference Honoree Award:
Prof. Robert Edwin
Mario Martinez, Eastern Region Governor
Guest Speakers: Nancy Bos, Faith Steinfort
Zoom Link: TBD- Live-streamed
WORKSHOPS, PRESENTATIONS, PERFORMANCES
SATURDAY, MARCH 13
9:30-10:30am YogaVoice®
Mark Moliterno
Description: An interactive session, this workshop will be in a master-class format. Singers will show through guided work by Mr. Moliterno how various YogaVoice® exercises and poses assist their vocal technique and performance.
Zoom Link: TBD- Live-streamed
10:45-11:45am Towards Decolonizing the Curriculum of the Classical Singer: Learning the Latin American and Iberian Art Song Repertoire
Patricia Caicedo
Description:Starting from the observation of the Latin American art song, the author questions the Eurocentric curriculum of the institutions that train classical singers across the world and invites classical singers and voice teachers to explore new repertoire, specifically the Latin American and Iberian art song one, a repertoire she will contextualize presenting some of its most prominent composers and poets
Zoom link: TBD- Prerecorded; Q&A Session Live-streamed
12:00am–1:00pm How to Protect Yourself from a Bad Director: Basic Stage Techniques for the Singer-Actor
William Koehler
Description: Have you ever wondered what you need to know going into your first staging rehearsal or what’s expected of you? Are you a young singer who is new to the stage? This workshop will explore (with some humor) basic stage techniques and situations for the beginning (and seasoned) singer/actor.
Zoom Link: TBD- Live-streamed
1:15-2:15pm From Folk-song to Art-song: The Songs of Jean Ritchie (1922 – 2015)
A Lecture Recital
Julianne Laird, soprano and R.J. Nestor, piano
Description: Jean Ritchie (1922- 2015) was one of the foremost American collectors of Southern Appalachian and British Isles folk-songs in the 20th century. As we near the centennial of her birth, we honor her legacy by presenting a recital of original art-song arrangements by R.J. Nestor. These are the songs from Ritchie’s heritage that she cherished and shared, presented for a new audience in a new era.
Zoom Link: TBD- Pre-recorded
2:15-3:30pm Lunch Break
Virtual Vendors Kiosk
Mark Moliterno, Patricia Caicedo, Nancy Bos
Description: Zoom in and join our guest presenters to learn about their products, services, publications etc.
Zoom link: TBD- Live-streamed, Breakout Rooms
3:45-4:45pm The ABC’s of Auditioning in 2021
Susan S. Ashbaker
Description: Auditioning has always required specific skill sets. Covid chaos has changed the familiar landscape. Acquire information and tools to once again feel like you can be on top of your game.
Zoom link: TBD- Live-streamed
5:00-6:00pm Spirituals: The Mother Music
Hope Koehler
Description: After the music of the indigenous people of North America, spirituals are the first truly American music. It can be argued that almost every other American musical form sprang from this rich heritage.
Zoom link: TBD- Live-streamed.
6:00-7:15pm Singing Through Change: Women’s Voices in Midlife, Menopause, and Beyond.
Nancy Bos
Description: Women’s voices change as they age and go through perimenopause and menopause. For singers, this can have many profound effects. In this talk, based on the best selling book published less than a year ago, Singing Through Change, co-written by Nancy Bos, Joanne Bozeman, and Cate Frazier-Neely, the presenter will expose us to challenges singers face and give us solutions for working through the issues with our students. Issues can include a wide range of physical and emotional challenges, and vary greatly from singer to singer. Strategies will include consideration of the effects of hormone changes, the impact of self-care, medical intervention, the need for flexibility from the singers and flexibility from those who support them.
Zoom Link: TBD- Live-streamed
SUNDAY, MARCH 14
1:00pm Awards Ceremony and Final Recital.
The Final Recital will be broadcast via YouTube Premiere. The winners of each category will be announced during the broadcast and one song (indicated during registration) for the first place student in each category will be broadcast.
Zoom Link: TBD- Awards Ceremony live-streamed; Final Recital pre-recorded.
Mario Martinez, Eastern Region Governor
Stephen Ng, Auditions Co-Chair
Debra Field, Auditions Co-Chair
3:30pm 2021 Eastern Region of NATS Student Auditions & Conference ends.
Meet our Distinguished Conference Guest Presenters, Clinicians, Master Teachers and Performing Artists
Mark Moliterno; Patricia Caicedo; William Koehler; Susan Ashbaker; Hope Koehler; Nancy Bos; Angela Brown