National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)
Deborah Guess has had a diverse work experience. From 1997 onwards, they served as the Director of Operations for the Nat'l Assoc. of Teachers of Singing (NATS) where they were responsible for various tasks such as overseeing human resource management, marketing and promotions for events, online registration, meeting planning, and site management. Deborah also held the role of managing editor for the organization's newsletter, Inter Nos. Prior to that, they worked as the Public Relations Director for The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville from 1995 to 1997. Deborah'scareer began at the University of North Florida in 1993, where they worked as a Teaching Assistant until 1995.
Deborah Guess attended T. DeWitt Taylor High School, although no specific dates are provided. Following high school, they pursued an Associate of Arts (AA) degree in Accounting and Business/Management at Santa Fe Community College from 1989 to 1991. Deborah then continued their education at the University of North Florida, earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in History and Art History from 1991 to 1995.
National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)
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 nearly 30 other countries. Internationally, NATS is represented in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom, with the number of countries growing every year. NATS Mission Statement: To encourage the highest standards of the vocal art and of ethical principles in the teaching of singing; and to promote vocal education and research at all levels, both for the enrichment of the general public and for the professional advancement of the talented. Driven by its mission statement, NATS offers a variety of lifelong learning experiences to its members, with workshops, intern programs, master classes and conferences, all beginning at the chapter level and progressing to national events. Students of NATS members have access to one of the organization's most widely recognized activities: Student Auditions. They also have the opportunity, along with members, to compete at a national level through the National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Awards (NATSAA), the National Music Theater Competition (NMTC), and the National Student Auditions competition. NATS supports the growth and enrichment of its members through the publication of Journal of Singing, a scholarly journal comprised of articles, written by distinguished experts, on all aspects of singing and the teaching of singing. Other publications include the members-only Inter Nos newsletter, which publishes twice annually (spring and fall) and the Intermezzo e-newsletter that distributes weekly.