UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Norman Spivey, professor of voice and voice pedagogy, and Jennifer Trost, professor of voice, have received the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) 2023 Clifton Ware Group-Voice Pedagogy Award.

The award was established in 2022 by Clifton Ware, professor emeritus of voice and voice pedagogy at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, to highlight the concept of class voice and its potential impact for singers through offerings in community, independent and academic settings.

“The Clifton Ware Group-Voice Pedagogy Award is a wonderful validation for the collaborative work that we do with our graduate assistants in creating a positive team-teaching experience focusing on building community, developing trust through a supportive and safe atmosphere, and offering ongoing, practical experience for our first-semester instrumental majors in the Bachelor of Music Education degree program,” Spivey and Trost said in a joint statement.

Spivey and Trost will use their $600 award to invest in class materials, such as anthologies and pedagogical tools, to enhance the quality of the class voice experience, and to offset expenses for collaborative pianists.

“The award offers concrete support for the ever-evolving work necessary to create the best possible class voice experience for the group,” Spivey and Trost said.

Established in 1944, NATS is the largest organization of teachers of singing in the world, with more than 7,000 members in more than 35 countries. To learn more, visit the NATS website.