From the President
Mikhail Smigelski
Greetings, Greater Houston NATS members! I am excited to continue to serve as a President of the Greater Houston Chapter of NATS!
Last year, we had very successful Musical Theatre/CCM and Classical Auditions at Lone Star Montgomery and Lone Star CyFair ! This year, based on your feedback and venue availability, the GHNATS board decided to host combined Musical Theatre/CCM/Classical Auditions on Saturday, April 11,2026, at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX. Mark your calendars! Please note that this year we will continue to include Children and Youth categories in live auditions. More information about the registration dates and other audition specifics will be coming your way very soon.
Last year, we launched an important initiative: providing GHNATS students – Texoma finalists who advance to the National semi-finals with a financial aid by reimbursing their NSA registration fees. Twelve students have benefited from this initiative, which we plan to continue in 2025/26.
This year, the GHNATS board plans to organize an additional event: a clinic/presentation in the field of vocal pedagogy and aimed specifically for voice teachers. The name of the clinician, date, and location will be announced by October 1st.
Texoma NATS Conference and Auditions are coming up soon on Nov. 5-8, 2025 at Baylor University in Waco, TX (classical categories only, high school, undergraduate, advanced, and adult divisions). For I hope to see many of you there.
I wish everyone a happy and healthy school year!
From the Vice President of Classical Auditions
Dana Guidroz
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to a new year with GHNATS! We are excited for the opportunities ahead and grateful for the energy and commitment of our membership. One of the highlights of this season will be a special workshop in voice science offered in January, which promises to enrich our teaching and inspire fresh approaches in the studio. Keep an eye out more details including the date and location! We are also looking forward to hosting our annual spring auditions at Sam Houston State University on April 11th, featuring both the Classical and Music Theatre/CCM divisions. We will be working diligently to streamline the audition day to make it easier for everyone involved. Last year’s spring auditions saw strong participation with impressive numbers across all categories. This successful audition reflects the dedication of our members and the enthusiasm of the talented singers we serve. As always, we encourage you to reach out to colleagues who may be interested in joining GHNATS. Our community thrives when we welcome new voices into the conversation! Finally, if you have ideas or comments you would like to share or would like to be a part of the leadership team in the future, please feel free to reach out to me, and I will share that information with the Board! I hope everyone has a wonderful year!
From the Vice President of Musical Theatre/CCM Auditions
Lindsay Russell Bowden
Hello GHNATS friends!
It was wonderful getting to connect with many of you this past year at auditions. I always love hearing all of the talented Greater Houston singers perform. The 2025 competition included our first live Youth and Children’s categories, as well as our first CCM competition. I am excited to see these competition categories grow for 2026!
We are always looking for opportunities to connect and serve our community of teachers. Please reach out to me at any time with ideas or questions about how our chapter of NATS can do better!
From the Vice President of Workshops
Priscilla Salisbury
Hello, everyone! My name is Priscilla Salisbury, and I am honored to serve as the Vice President of Workshops for the Greater Houston Chapter of NATS. In addition to my role here, I am a professor at Lone Star College, where I teach voice and diction for singers. I am passionate about fostering growth and development in our vocal community, and I’m excited to collaborate with all of you to bring enriching and inspiring workshops to our participants and members!
From the Treasurer
David Kirkwood
I’m David Kirkwood, your friendly neighborhood treasurer. I’m looking forward to a great year and seeing many of you at the chapter and regional conferences!
From the Secretary
Zoe Chunghui Kim
Hello GHNATS friends!
My name is Zoe Chunghui Kim, and I am honored to serve as your new Secretary for the Greater Houston Chapter of NATS. I currently teach voice at Huston-Tillotson University and have been a member of Texoma NATS for several years. I enjoy helping our chapter stay organized, connected, and thriving, so teachers and students can focus on what we love—singing and performing! I look forward to working with you this year.
From the Greater Houston District Membership Director
Michael Walsh
Dear GHNATS Colleagues,
Thank you for being a valued member of Greater Houston NATS! I am continually inspired by the spirit of collaboration and encouragement within our chapter. The support we share with one another truly sets GHNATS apart and remains one of our greatest strengths. As I begin my twelfth year on the Board, I could not be prouder of how vibrant and active our chapter continues to be. I encourage each of you to take full advantage of the many resources and professional development opportunities NATS offers. There is truly something for everyone!
Our dedicated GHNATS officers work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure our events are both meaningful and seamless. I am deeply grateful for their efforts and look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming Winter Workshop and next Spring’s combined auditions hosted by Sam Houston State University on April 11, 2026.
Be sure to follow our Facebook page, “Greater Houston Chapter of NATS (GHNATS),” for the latest updates, and please invite your colleagues in voice teaching to join our community. Here’s to a joyful year of singing, learning, and growing together! Go NATS!
