York University will be filled with the sweet sounds of singing this weekend when its School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) hosts the 2017 Ontario Vocal Showcase of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS).
The showcase is an opportunity for student singers, children and adults from across the province to perform and receive written feedback from a panel of three adjudicators. The singers also compete in various categories for scholarships.
Classical voice adjudications will take place Saturday, while the musical theatre adjudications will be on Sunday. First place winners from all categories will perform at the final concerts at the end of each day’s classes.
Each year, the Vocal Showcase alternates between either York University or the University of Toronto, or Western University or Wilfrid Laurier University.
“This year is our turn. We love to host the event in the Accolade East Building where we can show off not only our excellent new facilities and Recital Hall but also our fine vocal student participants,” said Catherine Robbin, associate professor of classical vocal performance at AMPD and one of Canada’s best known mezzo-sopranos. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for our students to meet their colleagues from across the province as well as to show York’s Department of Music and School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design to prospective new students, their parents and teachers. We are very excited to host this important event.”
The National Association of Teachers of Singing 2017 Ontario Vocal Showcase will feature students from Grade 5 to fourth year postsecondary, as well as young professional and adult avocational singers training under a singing teacher who is a NATS Ontario member. The showcase will take place Nov. 18 and 19 in the Accolade East Building, Keele campus, York University.
NATS is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world, with nearly 7,000 members in the United States, Canada and some 30 other countries.