Ohio NATS
Fall Meeting 2024
Kent State University
October 19, 2024
• President Sue Wallin called meeting to order
• Approval of minutes from Spring ’24 meeting
o Chad Payton moved; Frank Ward second
• Audition Protocols
o Thank you to Jay White and Tim Culver for hosting!!
o Thank you to all members for bringing and supporting your students
o Most categories finish between 1:30 & 2pm; hoping for awards around 3pm
o Winners’ concert – please have singers choose a short piece
o Panel chairperson will choose a timekeeper – be strict!
o All repertoire has been vetted – no need to question
o iPads are allowed if music is public domain or purchased
o NATS has eliminated gender from categories; “gender-bent” songs are completely allowed!
o Categories allow FULL time for each singer; if singer goes long, stop them; There is NO PENALTY for going over/being stopped; clock starts when student announces name and first piece
o da capo arias are to be done in full
o If you feel there has been some sort of violation, please write on comment sheet and bring to tabulation room
o If room is big enough, guests may listen in
o We are low on student volunteers – up to judges to bring in next singer
o Scoring:
▪ Important to put score on comment sheet!!! Panel chairperson is incharge of making sure all scores are present.
▪ No decimals, please….
▪ Try to not give same number to more than one singer.
▪ Judges do not confer
▪ Sliding scales at top of comment sheet, should you choose to use them, your final score should match.
o Comments
▪ Be helpful and constructive
▪ Are my comments helpful?
▪ Are my comments legible
o Conclusion of category – panel chair double checks that all sheets are scored and signed; panel chair will bring to tabulation room; if there is a room monitor, they can bring to tabulation room; finish category before starting the next one
• Comment sheets will be available outside E103; place finishers will be posted on registration landing
• Secretary-Treasurer Tracy Grady gave membership update at 121; Treasury is
sitting at about $10,700 before all of today’s expenses.
• Ohio District Membership manager, Hannah Jencius, has welcomed 8 new
members to the chapter! She will be resuming the 8pm cocktail/mocktail zooms
on the third Sunday of each month (Nov 17 is the next one); aiming to have the
mentor/mentee program begin in January 2025; We are coming up to host the AA
and regional auditions
• Spring meeting at Capital March 29th, 2025. Members will be presenting! Look for an email asking for submissions.
• Great Lakes Regional, March 1, 2025 at Wayne State in Detroit. Top 5 are eligible to sing at Nationals.
• Oct 24-25, 2025 is Fall Auditions (hoping to have OSU)
• We have a large turnover in the board this year.
o Typically the current VP is the next president.
o 4 board member spots available
• Children and Youth categories will be online in early 2025
• Thank you to Sue Wallin for amazing work as President!
• Frank Ward moved to adjourn; Laurie Lashbrook seconded