Founded in 1944, National Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc. (NATS) is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world with more than 7,000 members in the United States, Canada, and more than 35 other countries. Whether working in higher education, independent studios, opera/musical theater companies, choirs, voice-related clinics, voice labs, or studying voice avocationally, NATS members represent the diversity of today’s music landscape, teaching in all vocal styles. Recently, NATS has been encouraging international initiatives with the establishment of new international chapters. Hong Kong Chapter of NATS was finally established in 2022. We are to serve as an open platform that fosters an active, professional, scholastic yet approachable environment, to the singing community here. Our hope is that professional development of teachers of singing, as well as general education of voice in Hong Kong, will turn a new page in regard to localization of the study of voice.

We welcome you to join us as a member of NATS to gain access to vast sources of information. Current research and discussion at bi-annual conferences, the bi-monthly Journal of Singing, regional and national Student Auditions, and updated information about international competitions, workshops and auditions, are just a few examples. The NATS membership is a wonderful pathway for students in Hong Kong to get first-hand knowledge concerning vocal pedagogy, career planning, and advancement on craftsmanship. NATS members enjoy financial subsidies or exclusive business sales/service discounts while developing their professional careers. For details, please visit NATS.org.

“To advance excellence in singing through teaching, performance, scholarship, and research” is the mission statement of NATS. We are devoted in supporting its members in the areas of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism) so that members will be communicating and nurturing each other in a supportive and welcoming community. We, as a community, would like to promote vocal arts in Hong Kong, make use of the resources that NATS can offer, and strive for excellence in solidarity.

美國聲樂教師協會於1944年成立，是全球規模最大的聲樂教師協會。NATS的會員來自不同背景，無論是大學教授、不同範疇的聲樂老師、歌劇、音樂劇、現代流行歌唱家、合唱指揮、聲樂指導、不同程度的聲樂學生、業餘歌唱愛好者、耳鼻喉醫生、語言治療師、研究聲音的科學家、等等，都能透過此平台互相交流、彼此貢獻。至今，NATS的會員人數已超過7000人，會員來自超過35個不同的國家，近年更積極於亞洲建立分會，惠及世界各地。而美國聲樂教師協會香港分會終於在2022年成立。我們希望聯繫本地聲樂業界，鼓勵專業聲樂發展，將聲樂教育普及化，創造屬於香港「地道」的一頁。

若你加入成為NATS會員，你將能享受NATS豐富的資源，例如是閱讀緊貼聲樂發展討論的雙月學術期刊 Journal of Singing；參加每兩年一次的NATS聲樂研討會；參加NATS聲樂比賽；更容易得知外國升學面試、實習、國際比賽、聲樂音樂節等等資訊；連繫國際知明的聲樂家等等。NATS更會在財政上資助聲樂老師出席NATS活動，也會讓其會員享受來自與聲樂有關的出版商的折扣優惠。詳情可以前往NATS.org網頁作進一步了解！

NATS的使命是「To advance excellence in singing through teaching, performance, scholarship, and research」，即是「透過教學、表演、學術討論和研究，追求極高水平的聲樂體驗。」NATS更高舉「共融 (inclusion）、多元（diversity）、平等（equity）和反種族歧視（Anti-racism）」的四大價值，以確保會員能在互相尊重的環境下彼此學習和交流。因此，我們希望透過運用NATS現有資源和配套，支持和激勵所有對聲樂發展有興趣的香港人，一起繼續進步。