2023 conference interest sessions

LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in Collegiate Singing Instruction 
Prof. David Brian Clark and Prof. Jen Townsley, William Jewell College

Since its launch in 2007, Campus Pride Index has set criteria for colleges and universities to measure their LGBTQIA+ inclusion efforts. Most standards set forth in this resource are by design intended to be applied to the entire campus community; however, included are additional strategies for individual faculty members to implement in the classroom. Using these strategies as a guide, this presentation will examine available resources for teachers of singing in higher education who strive for inclusivity for their LGBTQIA+ students and provide a framework for accomplishing this goal. At the conclusion of the presentation, attendees will receive a compiled list of resources to further their knowledge.

Baritone David Brian Clark is an Instructor of Voice at William Jewell College and a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Vocal Studies Division at UMKC Conservatory where he is currently pursuing a DMA in Voice Performance. David earned a BM and MM in Voice from Appalachian State University and a Graduate Performance Diploma from The Boston Conservatory. He is a dedicated and passionate voice teacher, and his students have won awards at NATS National Student Auditions, Music International Grand Prix, Hal Leonard Vocal Competition, and include a semi-finalist in the NATS National Musical Theatre Competition.

David has performed with organizations such as Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Kansas City Festival Opera, Opera Carolina, Steel City Opera, Music Theater Heritage, Winston Salem Symphony, NC Baroque Orchestra, and Newburyport Choral Society.

Jen Townsley is an instructor of voice at William Jewell College and an adjunct faculty member at The University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory. She was previously a voice teacher at Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy in Dallas, Texas, where her students have excelled in TMEA All-State Choir(s), college music programs, NATS, and roles in DFW area musicals. Townsley is also passionate about creating outreach programs geared toward providing musical opportunities for underserved communities. She is currently on the DFW National Association of Teachers of Singing Fellowship Committee, which is creating fellowships for young aspiring singers from low-income families to have access to private voice lessons, music supplies and competitions.

Jen Townsley holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from SUNY Fredonia, a master’s degree in vocal performance from Texas Tech University, and is currently working towards her DMA at the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory of Music.

Somatic Explorations in the Voice Studio 
Dr. Rachel Day, Northwest Missouri State University/Velarde Voice LLC

Somatic explorations lead to increased agency in the student singer’s vocal exploration (Vocal Pedagogy) and increased organization in the body (Vocal Health & Wellness). When implementing Bones for Life® processes (a Feldenkrais-derived somatic practice) into regular study, students report increased enjoyment of singing and “having fun” in the practice room. In this Learning Experience, the presenter will guide students to find different organizations within their body—organizations that may significantly affect the singing voice. One primary principle is that minimal effort (never greater than 20%) is to be expended. If any sense of pain or discomfort is encountered, participants are encouraged to back off and to expend only 2% or even just imagine the movements.

The Presenter uses these processes while teaching singing voice lessons, and used them to personally recover from muscle tension dysphonia caused by TMJ dysfunction and osteoarthritis in both TMJs.

Rachel Day joined Northwest Missouri State University as Assistant Professor of Music (Voice) in August 2022. She began teaching private voice in 1993 and became a member of NATS in 1996, serving 3 terms as Valley of the Sun NATS Chapter President and four years as NATS Arizona District Governor. In leadership roles with NATS and the Pan American Vocology Association (PAVA), she networks with voice professionals throughout the country, including in her most recent role as PAVA’s Membership Director. In 2012, Rachel received Honorable Mention for the Van L. Lawrence Fellowship in Vocal Pedagogy Research and completed Wicklund Singing Voice Specialist (SVS) Certification. A 2017 CoreSinging® certified teacher, she completed the Summer Vocology Institute in 2021. Rachel also received her Bones for Life® teacher certification in 2021. Her specific interest in Feldenkrais® and singing began after her experiences with muscle tension dysphonia in spring 2019. She implements Bones for Life® practices in the voice studio, as inspired by the principles of CoreSinging®.

New and Diverse Operatic Literature
Dr. Chuck Chandler, DePaul University

New operas like Fire Shut Up In My Bones, The Factotum, & Fellow Travelers give voice to storytellers far less represented in the museum pieces of the past, and integrate styles requiring opera singers to make sounds beyond the traditional classical sound. This presents an opportunity to update our pedagogy. This session explores the demands of new operatic literature and offers strategies for necessary pedagogical updates both in the studio and the curriculum. The success of our art depends on mutual respect, inclusion, and setting aside the past’s narrow pedagogical practices to adopt a more inclusive pedagogy based on repertoire past and present.

Award-winning voice teacher Chuck Chandler garnered acclaim as a frequent recitalist, master clinician, and presenter at conferences in the U.S. & abroad with recent engagements in Vienna, Sweden, Italy, & Carnegie Hall, as well as colleges & universities throughout the US. He has published scholarship in the NATS Journal of Singing, and presented on topics including film & opera, fitness training & the singing voice, and music of female composers all focused on inclusive pedagogy at conferences and festivals nationwide. Chandler has many performance credits in national & international venues. His students won competitions including the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and appeared with Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Metropolitan Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Houston Grand Opera and others. He holds a Doctorate from University of Kentucky and serves on faculty at DePaul University and Red River Lyric Opera.

Composer Collaboration in the Independent Studio
Dr. Jessica Saunders, Dynamic Music Studios/ Saunders Vocal Studios/ Kirkwood Community College

This presentation proposes a model for composer collaboration in the independent voice studio, aimed at expanding the repertoire available to younger students. Traditional song choices often fail to resonate with students due to outdated themes and insensitive references. By working directly with living composers, voice teachers can create student-centered pieces that are engaging, relevant, and inclusive. This session will present a case study highlighting the process of collaboration between a voice teacher and a composer, providing insights, practical strategies, and the resulting impact on students, teachers, and the broader voice community. Student performances will also be highlighted. Presentation is by Dr. Jessica Saunders based on her collaboration with composer Dr. Lisa Neher and lyricist Dr. Kendra Preston Leonard.

Dr. Jessica Saunders (she/her), a versatile soprano and dedicated voice teacher based in Jesup, Iowa, owner of Saunders Vocal Studios and co-owner of Dynamic Music Studios. She also teaches applied voice at Kirkwood Community College. Dr. Saunders is the Audition Chair for the Central Region and is an active member of the Speakeasy Cooperative. Her passion for working with young singers led to her being featured on The Full Voice Podcast, where she discussed her innovative virtual recital offerings during the pandemic. Alongside her teaching endeavors, Dr. Saunders has showcased her talent as a performer, appearing in notable productions such as Messiah with Opera Quad Cities, Sunday in the Park with George, Bridges of Madison County, Ragtime, and Funny Girl with Revival Theatre Company.

Dr. Lisa Neher (she/her, “NEER”) is an award-winning composer and new music mezzo on a mission to transform audiences through sound, story, and vulnerability. Praised as “a small woman with a very big voice” and “especially alive” (Oregon ArtsWatch), Neher’s performance credits include Third Angle New Music, Really Spicy Opera, Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Opera Theatre Oregon, New Music Gathering, Resonance Ensemble, Experiments in Opera, Renegade Opera, and Big Mouth Society. She is a member of Portland Opera Chorus.

Described as a “visionary composer” (Willamette Week) and a “maestro of beautifully wacky noises” (Oregon ArtsWatch), Neher’s compositions are inspired by the climate crisis, the tender love of family and friends, and the eerie mystery of deep ocean life. She has been commissioned and performed by the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Cincinnati Song Initiative, Third Angle New Music, FearNoMusic, Dinosaur Annex, and New Opera West, among others. www.lisanehermusic.com.

Kendra Preston Leonard is a lyricist and librettist whose collaborations with composers tell stories about women, resilience, and compassion. She is inspired by history, language, nature, and myth. Her dogs howl at her when she sings “I’m gonna be a werewolf” to them.

Additional presentations:

Uncommon Gems: Classically Arranged American Negro Spirituals
Dr. Alexis Davis-Hazell, University of Alabama/NATS national president-elect

The Search: resources for finding new musical theatre literature for all voice types
Dr. Jeffrey Carter, Webster University/Jeffrey Richard Carter Studios LLC/Central Region governor