The National Association of Teachers of Singing proudly presents the 2024 Dillard Scholar Awards, celebrating the achievements of three student singers selected through the NATS Summer Program Auditions (SPA).

NATS SPA simplifies the summer program audition process, allowing singers to submit their applications and video auditions for multiple programs through a unified platform. This streamlined initiative, now in its fourth year, attracted participation from more than 40 summer program auditions organizations worldwide.

Named in honor of the late NATS president (2004-2006), Jane Dillard, who spent more than three decades as a professor of voice at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the Dillard Scholar Awards help singers with the costs of attending a summer program or young artist program.

Congratulations to the 2024 Dillard Scholar Award recipients and their teachers!

• Clare Lee ($500 award) – attending Schmidt Vocal Institute. NATS Sponsor: Kimberley Bentley
• Rebecca Manseau ($500 award) – attending Festival of International Opera (FIO Italia) in Urbana, Italy. NATS Sponsor: Joshua May
• Aaron Levine ($500 award) – attending Singing Down the Barriers summer program with University of Michigan. NATS Sponsor: Debra Jean (Jeanie) Darnell

NATS Executive Director Allen Henderson is pleased the association can help support students who want to pursue summer program opportunities and that the offering continues to flourish.

“NATS remains committed to supporting singers in their quest for summer program opportunities, addressing both application and financial angles,” said Executive Director Allen Henderson. “All of us at NATS are grateful for the vision and efforts of NATS members Serena Hill LaRoche and Elizabeth Johnson Knight with the Summer Program Auditions. NATS commends their dedication to the ongoing success of NATS SPA. Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Dillard Scholar Awards and their teachers! We wish all SPA participants a wonderful summer as you enhance your musical studies.”

Looking ahead, the NATS Summer Program Auditions (SPA) initiative will continue in 2024-25, with more information available this fall. Applications will open for submission around December 1, 2024, and programs will begin looking at materials mid-January 2025.