The executive office of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) has announced that 12 members have been selected to participate in the 2016 NATS Intern Program. A 10-day forum that pairs experienced and recognized master teachers of voice with talented, young teaching professionals, the NATS Intern Program is designed to promote the dynamic exchange of ideas and techniques, and substantially improve studio teaching skills.

This year's interns will work with master teachers James Doing, Jeannette Lovetri, Julie Simson and Stephen King at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, June 7-16. Kathryn Proctor-Duax is the director of this year's NATS Intern Program, while Robert Wells is the on-site coordinator.

The NATS Intern Program Class of 2016 includes:

• Elizabeth Ann Benson – Auburn, Alabama (Auburn University & Independent Studio);
• Melissa Brobeck – Athens, Ohio (Athens Community Music School);
• Derek Chester – Greeley, Colorado (University of Northern Colorado);
• Meghan Dewald – Mount Pleasant, Michigan (Central Michigan University);
• Les Flanagan – Norman, Oklahoma (University of Oklahoma);
• Jamie-Rose Guarrine – Amherst, Massachusetts (University of Massachusetts, Amherst);
• Michael Hanley – Boston, Massachusetts (Boston Conservatory);
• Katie Hannigan – Rochester, New York (Nazareth College);
• Aaron Humble – Rock Island, Illinois (Augustana College);
• Jeffrey Seppala – Brownsville, Texas (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley);
• Daniel Shirley – Greenville, North Carolina (East Carolina University); and
• Jamie Van Eyck – Waco, Texas (Baylor University).

Intern Program Participants 2016

Elizabeth Ann Benson	Melissa Brobeck	Derek Chester	Meghan Dewald
Les Flanagan	Jamie-Rose Guarrine	Michael Hanley	Katie Hannigan
Aaron Humble	Jeffrey Seppala	Daniel Shirley	Jamie Van Eyck

The NATS Intern Program is held annually. Application materials for the 2017 Program will be available in late summer. Those interested in contributing to the support of the program can donate to the James McKinney Memorial Fund through the NATS Foundation.

"My participation as an intern was truly a life-changing experience for me. It helped me to grow exponentially as a teacher and instilled in me a desire to continually improve and evolve in my work with students." - Tana Field, former participant in the NATS Intern Program