NATS Hosted at Mississippi College
The national organization held a regional singing competition, featuring several MC students as competitors, in Aven Hall.
On November 7-9, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, also known as NATS, held their Southern Region Conference at Mississippi College. Teachers and students from across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi came together for the annual competition with hopes of advancing to the national finals in 2025.
NATS is typically held at larger universities across the region. While it has been hosted at Mississippi College in the past, faculty and students still consider it a great honor for MC to have been chosen as the host for this year.
“The thing that drew me to MC was the small campus atmosphere and its Christian values,” said Zack Templeton, a student at Mississippi College and a competitor in this year’s regionals. “NATS being held here gives these visiting students an opportunity to be a part of that. Usually these competitions are held at big state schools that lack those special factors. Hopefully, we can see students that might find a home here at MC because of this competition.”
NATS is also an opportunity for competitors to meet other students and learn from professionals in the industry.
“Every year, I get to meet some really cool people or get to catch up with former friends,” Templeton said. “Usually NATS involves traveling, so usually it is also an opportunity to grow closer to the MC participants as well.”
While NATS is a competition, ultimately it means so much more to the competitors. It is an opportunity for learning and growth.
“Normally, I just sing in front of my teacher, so it’s nice to get feedback from other professionals in the industry,” said Ella Goodin, a returning competitor. “I love applying their comments to my performance and that kind of stuff… it also has just pushed me to get more into my music.”
Every competitor has different goals for the competition, and different aspects that excite them. For Goodin, NATS gives her an opportunity to try different styles of singing that she may not have an opportunity to otherwise.
“This is my first time doing musical theater, and it's cool to get to play those characters that I probably won’t ever get a chance to,” said Goodin. “I grew up loving the Sound of Music and Hairspray. Those boosted my love for musical theater.” She will be performing pieces from both musicals this year.
Templeton was most excited to share the meaning of his performance with the audience.
“This year, my opener is “Perfect” from Jagged Little Pill,” said Templeton. “It’s a song about the weight that perfectionism brings and the unrealistic expectations that you and others set for you. It is a piece that hits close to home, and getting to share that with others is what I’m most excited for this NATS season.”
Each year, NATS brings excitement, learning, and fellowship to the singing community, and this year promises to be no different as vocalists from across the region prepare to participate in this year’s competition.
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