About Us
Our Vision
Transforming lives through the power of singing.
Founded in 1944, National Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc. (NATS) is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world with more than 7,000 members in the United States, Canada, and more than 35 other countries. Whether working in independent studios, community schools, elementary and secondary schools, or higher education, NATS members represent the diversity of today’s music landscape, teaching in all vocal styles.
Internationally, NATS is represented in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom, with the number of countries growing every year.
Our Mission
To advance excellence in singing through teaching, performance, scholarship, and research.
NATS will:
- Support voice professionals within the studio, classroom, clinic, and performance venue.
- Provide committed leadership to achieve our mission and vision.
- Advance ethical principles and practice in our profession.
- Celebrate and recognize the value and efforts of all.
- Encourage individual skills and creativity.
Driven by its mission statement and values, NATS offers a variety of lifelong learning experiences to its members, with workshops, Intern Programs, master classes and conferences, all beginning at the chapter level and progressing to national events. Students of NATS members* have access to one of the organization’s most widely recognized activities: Student Auditions. They also have the opportunity, along with members, to compete at a national level through the National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Awards (NATSAA), the National Musical Theatre Competition (NMTC), and the National Student Auditions competition.
NATS supports the growth and enrichment of its members through the publication of Journal of Singing, a scholarly journal comprised of articles, written by distinguished experts, on all aspects of singing and the teaching of singing. Other publications include the members-only Inter Nos newsletter, which publishes twice annually (spring and fall) and the Intermezzo e-newsletter that distributes weekly.
Other member benefits launched in recent months include Vocapedia, a dynamic new information database that will forever change how information about singing and the science of voice is shared with the teaching community around the world, and the NATS Live Learning Center, which archives video sessions of past workshops, master classes and other sessions from NATS national conference and events.
Our Diversity and Inclusion Statement
NATS strives to be a welcoming and supportive community of members and students who celebrate the unique identities, varied backgrounds, and experiences of all individuals. We are dedicated to ensuring that all voices are valued and heard in an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all.
NATS Strategic Plan
Framing Our Future: 2020-2025
The NATS Strategic Plan is a living document with goals and objectives that, when accomplished, benefit members and our profession. With this strategic plan we offer an update to our mission and add to it NATS’ vision, values, and a diversity and inclusion statement.
It will take all of us, working together, to realize our ambitious goals. Please click the following links to access the following strategic documents and share them with your colleagues:
Beyond human capital, additional financial resources will be necessary to accomplish our goals. If you haven’t already, please consider donating to the NATS Framing Our Future Fund.