NATS intern program culminates with student recital

June 19 - A public recital featuring vocal performances from Shorter College student participants in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) intern program was held yesterday inside Brookes Chapel on the college’s campus.

The 24 students that were featured in the recital have spent the last 10 days studying under the direction of 12 professional voice teachers from across the United States. These 12 teachers were selected to participate in the NATS intern program hosted this year by Shorter College. Interns were mentored during the 10-day internship by four of the nation’s top master voice teachers. Master teachers who participated in this year’s event included Carmen Balthrop, from the University of Maryland; Jeannette LoVetri, a private studio teacher from New York City; George Gibson, professor emeritus from Wichita State University; and Scott McCoy, from the Westminster Choir College of Rider University.

Shorter College student Hannah Freeman, soprano, sings “Il mio bel foco … Quella fiamma,” during the 2009 NATS student recital. Accompanying Freeman on piano is Terry Kinton. Freeman was a student of NATS intern Dr. Heather Winter Hunnicutt.

Shorter College was selected to host the intern program and current Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Matthew Hoch and Associate Professor of Music, Vocal Coordinator and Opera Director Dr. Linda Lister served as the on-site coordinators of the event. Both Hoch and Lister are alumni of the NATS intern program. Former hosts of the program include the University of North Carolina, University of Missouri and the State University of New York.

Interns studying at Shorter this year included Dr. Tiffany Blake, Matthew Edwards, Dr. Heather Winter Hunnicutt, Matthew Latta, Jonathan Pilkington, Amanda Munton, Dr. Clea Nemetz, Dr. Lorraine Yaros Sullivan, Dr. Eric Thomas, Dr. Bradley Thompson, Dr. Randall Umstead and Dr. Andrew Whitfield.

NATS was founded in 1944 and is now the largest association of teachers of singing in the world. Today the organization boasts more than 6,500 members in the United States, Canada, and more than 25 other countries around the world.

Founded in 1873, Shorter College is a Christian college committed to excellence in education. Since 2003, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Shorter among the South’s best baccalaureate colleges, and The Princeton Review annually includes Shorter on its lists of best value and best Southeastern colleges. The college offers bachelor’s degrees in 48 major areas, master’s level and undergraduate degree programs for working adults, online courses, and a vibrant intercollegiate athletic program. Shorter will transition to university status June 1, 2010. For more information, visit www.shorter.edu.

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