The NATS national nominating committee has announced the slate for election to the term of office for 2026-2028. The board approved the slate in June during the annual meeting. Each current NATS voting member will receive a ballot from the executive office on September 1 with a deadline of November 1, 2025.

Biographies and candidate statements will be emailed to all members with a voting period of September 1 to November 1, 2025.

Nominations for National Office (Term of office for 2026-2028)

• President-Elect: Sarah Holman and Nicholas Perna
• Secretary/Treasurer: Holly Bewlay (second term)
• Vice President for Auditions: Casey L. Carter and Jill Terhaar Lewis
• Vice President for Outreach: André Chiang and Caroline Schiller
• Vice President for Membership: Lily Guerrero (second term)
• Vice President for Workshops: Kevin Wilson (second term)

About the officer nomination process

Report of the Nominating Committee, as Approved by the NATS Board of Directors

The NATS National Nominating Committee, chaired by Diana Allan along with Lisa Brillon, Ruth Ellis, San-ky Kim, Mark Kano, Phillip Harris, Marcía Porter, Yvonne Redman, and Rebecca Salter are submitting the names (the slate) for election to the term of office for 2026-2028. The slate was approved by the NATS Board of Directors during the June 2025 board meeting.

The National Bylaws state in ARTICLE X, Section 2. Election:

1. The Association Nominating Committee shall submit a slate of candidates for Association officers to the Board for approval one year prior to the beginning of the terms of the offices up for election. The slate of candidates, the date of distribution of the ballots, and the deadline for the return of ballots for the election shall be published in Inter Nos and NATS Online in the fall following the Board’s approval of the slate. There shall be a ninety-day interval between the publishing of the slate and the deadline for the return of the ballots.
2. Election of Association officers shall be by poll of the membership. Following the close of nominations, a full roster of duly nominated candidates shall be distributed to all voting members with a non-identifiable return ballot. The ballot will state the deadline for returning the ballot to the Secretary/Treasurer. Three Members appointed by the Secretary/Treasurer will count the ballots. No candidate may serve on the counting committee. A majority of all votes cast is necessary for election and those elected shall take office effective at the end of the national conference, or another time as determined by the Board from time to time.

Each current NATS voting member will receive a ballot from the executive office in September 2025 with a deadline of November 1, 2025.

President-Elect: Sarah Holman

Vision Statement:

I submit this vision statement in full humility and deep appreciation for the ongoing commitment that NATS has to its vision and mission. “Transforming lives through the power of singing,” the central tenet of our vision as the National Association of Teachers of Singing, realizes itself at deeper levels as we proceed through our careers. It is not just a lofty phrase but a reality for NATS, encapsulating the very heartbeat of our artistic expression as singers and teachers. It would be an immense responsibility and privilege to continue the pursuit of this vision serving as President-Elect. Robust and committed service leadership throughout the organization is constantly guiding us forward in the mission of NATS “to advance excellence in singing through teaching, performance, scholarship, and research.” Our national board has inspired us all, leading with deft responsiveness to the realities of a changing culture, strategic planning, and rigorous personal commitment. NATS has been a constant partner in my professional life, and I care deeply about this organization, its members, and our students as supported by my service. If chosen to be the next President-Elect of NATS, I will work closely with the current leadership, staff, and new Executive Director to be responsive to you, our members and the needs of your chapters and regions fully engaging our strategic plan with fiscal responsibility. Read more

President-Elect: Nicholas Perna

Vision Statement:

Dear Colleagues: I am honored to have the opportunity to outline my vision and priorities for a potential term as part of the NATS presidential line. I understand the commitment this service role requires, and I am excited about the possibilities ahead of us as an organization. NATS is at a complex and consequential inflection point. We are completing a 5-year strategic plan (and about to embark on a new one) while simultaneously beginning an organizational shift as we transition to a new Executive Director (ED) of NATS and Editor in Chief of Journal of Singing. With these matters, and more in mind, I believe the next few years will be influential in setting a course for the following decades. I hope to be able to continue to serve NATS through this critical period. Below I will outline several aspirational goals for my years of service.

Goal 1: Execute Goals of the New Strategic Plan.

As NATS develops and begins to execute its next strategic plan, I believe that we need to accomplish several outcomes central to NATS’ mission. I know that my two years as president-elect will focus on supervision of the new strategic plan. My goals for this time include nurturing existing programs, coordinating with our new Executive Director to ensure NATS’ staff can provide efficient infrastructure and communication, and serving the needs of a continually diversifying membership. Read more

Secretary/Treasurer: Holly Bewlay

It has been an honor to serve NATS during my 2024–25 term, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue contributing to our mission.

As treasurer, I review or verify supporting documents such as invoices, contracts, purchase orders, and itemized budget plans. I am interested in improving transparency, accountability, reporting, and recordkeeping to enable the board to better understand and approve all budget-related matters.

Into my second term, I would welcome the opportunity to be of assistance to those managing the NSA budget and the events and programs budgets to align processes and ensure consistency in documentation across all spending areas. This alignment would allow the treasurer to provide more accurate, up-to-date financial analysis for the board. Read more

Vice President for Membership: Lily Guerrero

As Vice President for Membership, my first term has focused on strengthening the infrastructure, outreach, and growth strategies of NATS. I'm proud to have helped usher in a tiered membership structure that offers more flexibility and accessibility for members at all career stages. I also worked diligently with Regional Governors to fill DMD vacancies and introduced new goal-setting guides to support DMDs and Chapter Presidents in their leadership roles.

In collaboration with our President, I co-organized the NATS Leadership Summit last fall, and I've served as Chair of the Membership Committee, facilitating two productive meetings to discuss recruitment strategies. We successfully launched a New Member Mixer (with another on the way this August), held Spring meetings with the DMDs and went over yearly reports with them, and assisted with transitioning the role of Membership Services Coordinator into a more strategically focused Membership Growth Strategist position. Personally, I’ve reached out to over 900 expired members and created a new Exit Survey to gather data and better understand non-renewals. These efforts have laid a strong foundation for our future membership initiatives. Read more

Vice President for Auditions: Casey L. Carter

At the heart of the National Association of Teachers of Singing lies a powerful tradition: the National Student Auditions (NSA). For decades, these auditions have offered far more than a stage—they’ve provided students a space to grow, to be seen, and to be supported. In a world often driven by individualism, the National Student Auditions stand as a beacon of collaboration, reflection, and community.

The National Student Auditions are not simply contests. They are celebrations of growth, laboratories of learning, and most importantly, gatherings of community. Feedback here is not given to rank or separate, but to uplift and unify. This spirit of connection is the foundation of my vision.

If elected Vice President of Auditions, I will dedicate myself to building a community reflective of our diversity and cultural heritages, while promoting inclusivity across all levels of the audition process—chapter, district, region, and international. While each region serves a unique population of teachers and students, our true strength lies in our ability to function as a connected, cohesive whole. Read more

Vice President for Auditions: Jill Terhaar Lewis

As Vice President for Auditions, my vision is to support and enhance the good work already being done within the organization, while exploring ways to further create more inclusive, accessible, and forward-thinking NATS audition programs. These programs should honor our traditions while boldly expanding into new territory. I am committed to building on the strong foundation already in place by continuing to support diverse repertoire and underrepresented composers, while also exploring innovative ways to serve a broader population of students and teachers.

I would like to see NATS move towards more opportunities for underserved communities. Auditions are a good vehicle for this because they attract active participation from students and teachers and provide useful goals in the studios. If NATS aspires to reach a more diverse membership, it needs to engage communities where this diversity is present. Specialized categories in Mariachi music, folk music, contemporary commercial music including subcategories of country and western, jazz, gospel, and blues are all sample areas that could be considered. Pilot projects utilizing online auditions and workshops could help us integrate new categories into the NSA or in a newly created audition structure. Read more

Vice President for Workshops: Kevin Wilson

I am currently serving in my first term as the VP of Workshops for the NATS National board. This year is unique because we have two shared events: our first, a joint workshop with the National Opera Association last winter in Savannah, GA, and then the International Congress of Voice Teachers in Toronto this July. I worked closely this year with the marketing, planning, and selection committees, as well as the overall planning for the NOA Winter Workshop, alongside Kelly Balmaceda, Director of Events. This event was largely successful, with a higher-than-average attendance for a winter workshop.

My interactions with the International Congress of Voice Teachers mainly involved serving on selection committees to review workshop proposals. This year alone, we received over 175 applications for workshops.

This year, we also hosted the inaugural AuditionCon alongside the joint NSA auditions held at Temple University in Philadelphia. Sixteen schools and organizations attended to recruit and connect with students. We developed a masterclass and instruction schedule that enabled 54 students to work with the participating schools. Feedback was strong and I was able to meet and interview each participating school to get video feedback for future marketing. Read more

Vice President for Outreach: André Chiang

I want to begin by letting the committee and membership know how humbled I am at the potential opportunity to serve NATS in this role and be a tangible part of the planning and movement of the organization into the future. It is truly a full circle moment. I have been a part of NATS basically since I started taking voice lessons at 15. I went to every state audition in Alabama while in high school and participated in two regional events. It was the first time I felt the thrill and nerves of singing in front of a large audience and the first time I met singers from around the state and region outside of Mobile, AL. I loved hearing all the repertoire and seeing singers grow each year, and I started understanding the importance it had on my growth and general idea of where I was in my own singing. Since that time, I have brought students to the same auditions I attended, adjudicated on multiple levels, won NATSAA, been a NATS Intern, and traveled around the country meeting members throughout the nation. NATS has always been with me in my singing and teaching journey, and I want to help it grow to help all future teachers and singers. Read more

Vice President for Outreach: Caroline Schiller

Dear Colleagues, Thank you for this nomination. I am honoured to be nominated for a position that has reached so many young singing professionals. I am dedicated to continuing and building on the excellent work that has been done, with a view to an expansive and student-centred future.

Vision Statement: To foster an inclusive, responsive, and forward-thinking community of young singing artists and pedagogues. Passionately advocating for mentorship and innovative partnerships; equitable access; and celebrating diverse voices and teaching paths, I look to support the work of SNATS members and provide a bridge between training and practice. The aim, to empower the next generation of knowledgeable, creative, and compassionate teachers of singing. Read more