Redwood Empire NATS

https://mailchi.mp/ff33f9dad7d5/2026-singing-festival-registration-is-open-13052951

2026 Singing Festival Registration is closes Friday, February 20th This is a friendly reminder that registration for the March 7, 2026 Redwood Empire Singing Festival closes Friday, February 20th.

Friends, singers, and curious humans — please read this.
I need to say this louder because the ads are not doing it justice.

The Emily Dickinson concert on Sunday, Feb 1 is going to be wildly interesting. Even if you don’t usually go to classical concerts, this is absolutely one to check out.

This is not a “sit politely and clap” kind of night.

Think:
• multi-genre music
• multimedia + multi-sensory design
• things hanging from the ceiling
• dirt on the stage
• and yes… a desk gets broken during the performance

WHY EMILY DICKINSON?
Because Emily Dickinson wrote about the stuff people usually keep to themselves: fear, obsession, doubt, desire, death, and those moments when joy flips into terror. Her poems are short, sharp, eerie, funny, and unsettling in the best way. They still feel shockingly modern. They don’t wrap things up nicely — they linger. Set to music, they hum under your skin.

This concert is a fully immersive, multimedia, multi-genre experience. It’s on a Sunday night because it literally takes four full days to build the technical and physical elements of the show.

🎟️ Students: PLEASE take advantage of the $20 tickets
Promo code: SoSings2026 (this link auto-applies it)

📍 Weill Hall, Green Music Center (Sonoma State University)
🚗 Free parking — no permits required (Sonoma Sings is covering the lot)

🎶 SINGERS — there’s more.
If you want to go one step further than attending, there’s also a FREE ensemble singing opportunity as part of the masterclass on:

📅 Thursday, January 29, 2026
⏰ Call time: 4:45 pm (rehearsal 5–6 pm)
🍽️ Dinner break
🎤 Masterclass: 7–9 pm (free and open to the public)

👗 Dress: Black attire (touches of white are totally fine)
📍 Location: Weill Hall, Green Music Center

🎼 What we’re singing:
• Ombra mai fu
• How Can I Keep From Singing

Treble voices (soprano/alto):
– You’ll sing T1 on How Can I Keep
– Ombra is in unison

No memorization required — you just need to know the music well. Printed music and folders will be provided on site for a unified look.

🎧 YouTube reference links are available, and Melinda Moreaux can send you the sheet music PDFs.
📧 Email her directly at [email protected]

There’s no ticket required for the masterclass, so feel free to invite friends and family to come watch.

Even if you only come to the concert — come.
And if you’re a singer? Come sing with us. This is a special one.

Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-sopranoTime For Three, string trioEmily – No Prisoner Be - Green Music Center Michael Feinstein pays heartfelt tribute to the legendary Tony Bennett, bringing his iconic songs to life with the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band.

Please Join us for a beautiful afternoon of song!

Wow! What an incredible workshop we had yesterday on Acting While Singing with the amazing Johnathen Blue! 🎭🎶

We heard such a beautiful variety of songs — different styles, ages, and levels of singers — and explored the acting choices that help us truly connect with our music. The room was filled with laughter, insight, and inspiration.

The afternoon ended with a standing ovation for Blue, whose closing reminder really struck home: “We should know our songs well in order to know ourselves better—and present our stories with pride and dignity.” 💫

A huge thank-you to Johnathen Blue for sharing his artistry, to Sonoma Sings for partnering with us, to the Santa Rosa Junior College for hosting, and to our wonderful accompanist Emma Clark for her beautiful playing!

This is going to be so fun!

https://mailchi.mp/2f9b825c11f7/redwood-nats-notes-for-a-thriving-season-ahead

Redwood NATS: Notes for a Thriving Season Ahead We had a wonderful afternoon gathering at Susan’s home for our in-person chapter meeting. It was such a pleasure to connect and share ideas face-to-face. For those who weren’t able to attend, I wanted to send along a summary of what was discussed so you’re up to date.

Teachers, check your email for details on our upcoming membership meeting on August 23! Hope to see you there!

Our fantastic finalists at the 2025 Singing Festival.

Congratulations to all the finalists—and to EVERYONE who sang today!
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Studying voice and performing in public takes incredible courage and dedication, and each of you should be proud of the hard work you put into preparing and sharing your music.
A heartfelt thank you to Sonoma State University, its faculty, and staff for collaborating with our NATS chapter to make this festival possible.

Huge thanks to our incredible collaborative pianists, whose artistry and support elevated each performance.

We also extend our gratitude to the teachers and volunteers of this chapter for their dedication, and to our adjudicators for sharing their time and expertise.

Today was truly a labor of love, a celebration of music, and a testament to the importance of keeping the arts alive.

2025 Festival Program NATS NEW

We are so excited for our singing festival this weekend! We got a great turn out :)

Come see our final recital at 7PM in Schroeder Hall - FREE to the public. Guest Choirs - The Petaluma Women's Chorus.