Matthew Hoch

The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) has appointed Matthew Hoch as the next editor-in-chief of the Journal of Singing.

“Many thanks are due to the appointed Journal of Singing Editor-in-Chief Search Committee, which consisted of NATS leaders, several members of the current JOS editorial board, and the JOS Production Manager,” said NATS President Alexis Davis Hazell. “Careful deliberations of the search committee resulted in a unanimous recommendation to the NATS Executive Board that Hoch serve as the next Journal of Singing editor-in-chief. His prolific publication experience and editing skill complement his distinct preparedness to expeditiously undertake Journal of Singing editorial processes and policies in the service of NATS membership.”

Hoch will succeed Lynn Helding, who served as editor-in-chief elect for the 2022/23 publication cycle alongside Richard Sjoerdsma, transitioning to editor-in-chief in May 2023. Next month, Helding will train Hoch on the journal’s operations, and he will assume full responsibilities for the September/October 2025 issue.

“I have worked with Matt Hoch in a number of capacities over the years, so I know that he will make an excellent editor-in-chief,” Helding said. “The Journal of Singing — the readers, the writers and the editorial review board members — will all be the beneficiary of Matt’s numerous skills, including his own writing as main author of the JOS ‘Voice Pedagogy’ column, as well as his extensive editing expertise via the NATS ‘So You Want To Sing’ series. I can't imagine anyone more qualified than Matt Hoch to take the JOS ‘baton’ and carry the journal forward into its next phase.”

NATS Executive Director Allen Henderson echoed Helding’s praise for the incoming editor.

“Having worked with Matthew Hoch as a successful editor for both the ‘So You Want to Sing’ series and the NATS Books series, I welcome him to the position of editor-in-chief of Journal of Singing,” Henderson said. “His dedication and passion for the editing process will ensure that our journal continues to be a leading publication in our field.”

A familiar name to readers of the journal, Hoch has been on the JOS editorial board and served as an associate editor of the “Voice Pedagogy” column since 2022. Hoch is a professor of voice at Auburn University and previously taught as Shorter College/University. In addition to publishing more than 50 articles in multiple academic and professional journals, he has written, co-authored, edited and co-edited over 11 books. He is the author of “A Dictionary for the Modern Singer” and “Welcome to Church Music & The Hymnal 1982,” coauthor of “Voice Secrets: 100 Performance Strategies for the Advanced Singer” and “So You Want to Sing Music by Women” and volume editor for several others in the NATS “So You Want to Sing” series, including books devoted to sacred music, commercial music, world music, and body-mind awareness. Recently, he served as editor of the fourth edition of “The Singing Book” by Cynthia Vaughn and Meribeth Dayme, which was released in June 2024. He previously served as an editor-in-chief for NYSTA’s VOICEPrints from 2008 to 2016.

“I am honored to be named editor-in-chief of the Journal of Singing,” Hoch said. “I will do my best to continue the strong work of my predecessors and am especially grateful to Lynn Helding, who will mentor me in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition. I am eager to get to work and serve NATS in this new capacity.”

About the Journal of Singing
The Journal of Singing is the official journal of National Association of Teachers of Singing, providing current information regarding the teaching of singing as well as results of recent research in the field. A peer-reviewed journal, it serves as an historical record and is a venue for teachers of singing and other scholars to share the results of their work in areas such as history, diction, voice science, medicine, and especially voice pedagogy. Journal of Singing is published five times annually (Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec, Jan/Feb, March/April, May/June).

About Matthew Hoch
Matthew Hoch joined the faculty of Auburn University in 2012, where he was tenured in 2015 and promoted to the rank of professor in 2020. Prior to this appointment, he spent six years as assistant professor of voice at Shorter College/University. He has appeared as a soloist with the Oregon Bach Festival, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, the Vox Consort, Harmonie Universelle, the Hartford, Rome, and Nashua symphony orchestras, the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, and the United States Coast Guard Chamber Players. Hoch is the 2016 winner of the Van L. Lawrence Fellowship, awarded jointly by the Voice Foundation and NATS. He is the author, coauthor, editor, or coeditor of 11 books and over 50 of peer-reviewed articles that have appeared in numerous academic and professional journals. Previous editorial positions in NATS have included associate editor of the “Voice Pedagogy” column in the Journal of Singing, chair of the “NATS Books” publishing initiative with Rowman & Littlefield/Bloomsbury, and editor of the “So You Want to Sing” book series. In 2018, he presented performances and master classes in the United Arab Emirates and was awarded the Auburn University College of Liberal Arts Teaching Excellence Award. In addition to his academic life, he is an active church musician, a Colleague of the American Guild of Organists (CAGO), and the recipient of the Association of Anglican Musicians Brittenback-Meezan Presidential Award.

Special Thanks to the Search Committee

• Alexis Davis-Hazell, Chair, President
• Diana Allan, Past-President
• Allen Henderson, Executive Director
• Lorna MacDonald, Advancement Committee & Canadian Pedagogy Award
• Deirde Michael, JOS Editorial Board
• Justin John Moniz, JOS Associate Editor
• John Nix, JOS Associate Editor
• Trineice Robinson-Martin, JOS Editorial Board
• Randall Umstead, President-Elect
• Laura Carter, owner of the Carter Publishing Studio, joined the committee in her role as JOS Production Manager for candidate interviews.