We are thrilled for the inaugural year of a new chapter initiative: the NATS Boston Mentorship Program. Modeled off the national NATS Intern Program, this three-month-long program is designed to empower NATS Boston members through structured mentorship.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MENTEES!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MENTEES!
Welcome Nats Boston 2025 Mentors
Welcome to our 2025 Cohort!
MEET THE MENTORS
Dr. Ian Howell is the founder of and chief educator at the Embodied Music Lab. He has held classroom and studio teaching appointments at the New England Conservatory of Music, the Cleveland Institute of Music, Yale College, Swarthmore, and Rutgers. He has sung in most major concert halls across America, Europe, Canada, and Japan as a soloist and with numerous professional ensembles. He has presented original research on performing arts biodynamics at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), the Pan American Vocology Association (PAVA), the Voice Foundation, the Audio Engineering Society, and the Society for Music Perception and Cognition, and has peer reviewed for Oxford University Press, the International Physiology & Acoustics of Singing Conference (PAS7+), Musicae Scientiae, and PAVA. Ian has been an invited guest speaker and clinician for the NATS Chat series, the New York Singing Teacher’s Association, Opera Programs Berlin, Peabody Lunch and Learn, Mannes, CU Boulder, New York University, Boston Conservatory, and the San Francisco Conservatory. He is published in the Journal of Voice, the Journal of Singing, Classical Singer, and VOICEPrints, and his first book Advice for Young Musicians was published in 2023. He has won professional recognitions ranging from a Grammy Award and a Grammy Award Nomination for his recordings with Chanticleer to a special commendation by the American Academy of Teachers of Singing for his “work with low-latency platforms and associated technology, and broad dissemination of instruction in its use” during the Covid 19 pandemic. Ian won the Van L. Lawrence Fellowship in 2022 for work investigating cis male bias in a common voice science model, and he was elected to the American Academy of Teachers of Singing in 2023. His research interests include the intersection of human perception and the singing voice with a special focus on the role of auditory transduction. He now reaches a worldwide audience of clients and students via high-quality, low-latency online collaboration tools. He holds degrees in music from Capital University, Yale University, and the New England Conservatory of Music. Ian Howell lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his wife and their two children. There is talk of getting a cat.
Clare McLeod, Harvard EdM, is an Associate Professor in the Voice Department at Berklee College of Music, where she is the principal author of the Minor in Teaching Contemporary Voice and Berklee Online’s Essentials of Teaching Contemporary Voice. A certified Estill Master Teacher, Clare also trained at the National Center for Voice and Speech, and is a member of the Voice Foundation, the National Association of Teachers of Singing and the Pan American Vocology Association. In addition to teaching at Berklee, she presents voice clinics regularly around the world and continues to contribute to developments in voice research.
Dan Callaway teaches musical theatre voice and vocal pedagogy at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. He previously served on the faculty of Elon University’s music theatre program. Select theater credits include the Broadway National Tour of The Phantom of the Opera and Where’s Charley? with City Center Encores!, The Pirates of Penzance at the Guthrie Theater, The Caucasian Chalk Circle at the Hangar Theatre, Pippin with Deaf West Theatre at the Mark Taper Forum, My Fair Lady at Sacramento Music Circus, Jesus Christ Superstar at the MUNY, Putting It Together at South Coast Repertory, 1776 and Oklahoma! at Cabrillo Music Theatre, Spamalot and Sweeney Todd (LA Ovation nomination for best featured actor in a musical) with Musical Theatre West, and One Touch of Venus with Lost Musicals at the Royal Opera House. Callaway also played Logos in Eric Whitacre’s electronic opera Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings at the Theatre at Boston Court in Pasadena. With LA's Musical Theatre Guild he performed in Chess, Fade Out – Fade In, The Most Happy Fella, Aspects of Love, Titanic, Edwin Drood, Irma La Douce, Fanny, Shenandoah, and Death Takes a Holiday. He appeared in Carousel, Lombardi, and The Light in the Piazza with Theatre Raleigh as well as Carolina Ballet’s Don Quixote. He also played George in Sunday in the Park with George for North Carolina Summer Rep, and Emile DeBecque in South Pacific and the Padre in Man of La Mancha, both with Triad Stage. Callaway led a vocal studio in Los Angeles and taught professional music theater workshops. He has several students performing on Broadway, national tours, in the regions, and internationally. He earned a B.F.A. in Music Theatre from Elon College (2000) and an M.M. in Vocal Performance/Pedagogy from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2017). He lives in Ashland, Massachusetts, with his wife, Melissa, and sons Noah and Jude. He also teaches regular workshops and lessons in New York City.
MEET THE 2025 INAGURAL COHORT
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JAYSON BANTON
Hailing from Kissimmee, Florida, tenor Jayson Banton is a passionate performer and voice teacher. He is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where he also serves as Teaching Assistant for the undergraduate voice pedagogy class, Graduate Teaching Assistant for Voice for Non-Majors, and Graduate Teaching Fellow for Boston City Signers. Outside of the conservatory, Jayson maintains a full private studio and growing studio with North End Music & Performing Arts Center. This summer, Jayson will be presenting original research at The Voice Foundation’s 54th Annual Symposium on “The Effects of Cross-Training Experience on Voice Quality”. As a soloist, Jayson has brought dynamic energy to roles such as Don Basilio (Le nozze di Figaro), Snout (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Mr. Upfold (Albert Herring), and as tenor soloist in Carmina Burana. |
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KAYLEIGH BENNETT
Kayleigh Bennett is a Boston based mezzo-soprano and music instructor. She earned undergraduate degrees in Music Performance and Music Education from Moravian University and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. Kayleigh currently serves as a staff singer and soloist at St. Cecilia’s Church, where she contributes to both choral and solo performances. Kayleigh is an active member of the Cantata Singers and the Tutti Music Collective, collaborating on a variety of musical projects. A notable recent performance in her career was singing the Rutter Magnificat with the Continuo Arts Foundation, under the direction of John Rutter. As a dedicated educator, Kayleigh teaches both voice and piano, drawing from her extensive knowledge of vocal technique and artistry. Through her work as a performer and educator, Kayleigh is committed to advancing the musical community in Boston while promoting historically underrepresented works and composers. |
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JUSTINE BOONSTRA
Justine Boonstra is a Boston-based singer and voice teacher. She holds a Master’s of Music in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. Some of her favorite roles to date are The Sandman from Hansel and Gretel with NEC Opera and Despina from Così fan tutte with Chicago Summer Opera. Justine, a classically trained Soprano, also prides herself on being a versatile singer, performing in many genres ranging from musical theater to pop to jazz. In recent years, Justine has enjoyed singing with various wedding bands across the East Coast and writing and performing music of her own. She also debuted the role of Rosie in At Love’s Hearth, a musical thesis project written by Stephanie Hollenberg, Harvard alum. Justine’s teaching studio consists of 40+ students of all genres and ages. She holds teaching positions at Amy Dancz Music Studio and North End Music Performing Arts (NEMPAC). While not singing, Justine enjoys yoga, dancing, baking, and trying new restaurants with her husband, Eli. |
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COREY DALTON HART
Corey Dalton Hart, tenor, is an active performer of opera, oratorio, and song repertoire as well as an eager chamber musician. He has been a featured soloist with the American Symphony Orchestra, the Albany Symphony, the Asheville Symphony, the Bard Baroque Ensemble, and The Orchestra Now. As a chamber musician, Corey performs with Blue Heron, Zenith Ensemble, the Handel and Haydn Society, Skylark, the Boston Camerata, Seven Times Salt, Boston Baroque, Renaissance Men, The Ashmont Bach Project, and Upper Valley Baroque. He was also named an American Scholar of VOCES8, one of the world’s most versatile vocal ensembles. Corey holds degrees from Furman University and Bard College as well as a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from NEC where his research focused on the partsongs of English Renaissance lutenist, John Dowland. He is currently a member of both the NEC College and Prep School faculties. |
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ANINA LAWRENCE
Anina Lawrence (they/she) is a voice teacher and singer/songwriter based out of Central MA. Their areas of interest within voice teaching include gender affirming voice care, voice science, and trauma-informed voice pedagogy. The three tenets of Anina’s teaching philosophy are exploration, play, and collaboration, resulting in a lesson experience that is both fruitful and fun! Anina strives to create a safe space for students of all genders, abilities, and backgrounds to learn and grow as singers and musicians. When they're not teaching or performing, Anina loves reading, hanging out with her two cats (Thea and Stella), and cooking & baking gluten-free goodies. Anina holds a BM from Berklee College of Music where they studied Professional Music (concentrations in Performance and Songwriting) and Teaching Contemporary Voice. They are thrilled and honored to be part of the first iteration of the Boston NATS Mentorship Program! |
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ERIN MATTHEWS
Praised by the Boston Globe for her “pristine timbre and expressive face,” Ms. Matthews is a highly sought-after soprano and teacher in the Boston area. She has been seen most recently with Guerilla Opera and Enigma Chamber Opera, in roles including Olympia (Les contes d’Hoffmann), Flora (Turn of the Screw), Marzelline (Fidelio), Noémie (Cendrillon), Despina (Così fan tutte), and Johanna (Sweeney Todd). She performs frequently with professional choirs including Skylark, Cappella Clausura, and Labyrinth, and has been a featured soloist with Nightingale Vocal Ensemble, Trinity Church Copley Square, and Church of the Advent. A specialist of chanson, she has been a guest recitalist at the Boston MFA, Brookline Music School, and Boston College. Ms. Matthews received her B.Mus in Voice & B.A. in French from the University of North Texas, and her M.Mus in Opera & Alexander Technique Certification from Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She is currently pursuing her D.M.A. at Boston University in addition to maintaining a full performance and teaching schedule. |
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MAX RYDQVIST
Max Rydqvist, baritone, holds a Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from Boston University and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Binghamton University. Residing as a performer in the Boston area, Max currently engages as ensemble member/soloist with the Cantata Singers and also as a soloist/section leader at the Boston Society of the New Jerusalem. A fervent advocate of voice science, Max is committed to fusing his knowledge of science and art into research, performance, and teaching. He holds a Certificate of Distinction in Vocal Pedagogy from Boston Conservatory and a certificate from the Science-informed Voice Pedagogy Institute of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). Moreover, Max procures an associate membership with NATS where he is a participant in the local Boston Chapter. As a teacher, he is a strong promoter of student empowerment. |
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JEN PEARL
Jen Pearl has been teaching students of all ages for the last twenty years, in private as well as in choral settings. As a teacher, she strives to guide each student, regardless of experience, to find their own true voice and believes that the quality of thinking that one develops working on music naturally influences the way one thinks throughout all aspects of life, therefore creating better and happier citizens. Jen currently serves as Chair of the Voice Department at South Shore Conservatory, as Senior Voice Faculty at EKS Music School (Quincy, MA), while maintaining a private vocal studio in her home. She also is founder and conductor of the Quincy-based Schiller Institute Chorus and is Chair of the Board of the Schiller Institute NYC Chorus (Manhattan, NY). Passionate about outreach, Jen worked as an arts specialist in the Brockton schools for five years through SSC's ImagineArts program and currently serves as voice teacher at Rose Conservatory (Brockton, MA). As a singer, Jen is a freelance church ringer and recitalist and is most proud of her recent performance as a chorister with City Sing in the Handel and Haydn Society's performances of Handel's Messiah in 2024. When she's not singing and conducting, Jen loves going hiking with her husband and pup, doing yoga, and reading. |
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ANISSA PERONA
Anissa (she/her) is an educator and performer in the Boston area. She currently teaches as part of the voice faculties at Dean College and the Franklin School for the Performing Arts in Franklin, MA in addition to her private studio. She has performed recently at the Franklin Performing Arts Center in SCHOOL OF ROCK (Patty), as well as in several concerts in NYC, such as the 10th Anniversary concert of Ryan Scott Oliver’s 35MM with Actor Therapy at Feinstein’s/54 Below. She has also recently released two audiobooks on Audible as a narrator. Anissa holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance/Musical Theatre from NYU Steinhardt and a Master of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre Vocal Pedagogy from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She is so excited and grateful to be a mentee in the inaugural NATS Boston Mentorship Program! |
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REGINA STRONCEK
Regina Stroncek is a versatile teaching artist and researcher interested in communicating with diverse audiences through language and music. As a voice teacher, she has had the honor of working with students between the ages of 4-64 to build a lifelong appreciation for music. Regina has sung world and regional premieres of art song and chamber music by living composers in the U.S. and Brazil, and spent 2 years teaching English and researching and performing Brazilian vocal chamber repertoire in Brasília through Fulbright grants. You can see Regina this 2024-2025 season performing with Nightingale Vocal Ensemble, Lilith Vocal Ensemble, and Voice of Iris, starring as Sibella in Vokes Players’ production of A Gentleman’s Guide…, and presenting research and recitals on Brazilian women composers at the American Portuguese Studies Association International conference, the Women Composers Festival of Hartford, and To the Fore Concert Series. Regina teaches voice lessons online and in-person in Newtonville, MA. |
FAQ's
How does it work?
From February through May of 2025, nine selected mentees will meet virtually with one of three mentor teachers. Mentees will each have the opportunity to show recorded footage of their teaching and receive detailed feedback from their mentor alongside other mentees in their cohort. Each mentee will also have one additional half hour alone with their mentor per month to discuss their progress, career, and any questions they may have. Additionally, mentor teachers will open up “observation hours” for mentees each month to observe voice lessons as they are available. In late August or early September of 2025, the Mentorship Program will culminate with a one day in-person event, open to the full membership.
Who are the mentors?
Our 2025 mentor teachers are: Dan Callaway, Ian Howell, and Clare McLeod. We are thrilled to have these brilliant leaders in voice pedagogy (and NATS Boston members themselves!) on board to work with our mentees.
What does it cost
This program is completely FREE for mentees! This is a significant investment for our chapter, as the value of the program for each mentee is approximately $2,500. It’s the “Year of the Teacher,” and we are invested in creating valuable opportunities for learning and relationship-building for our membership!
Who is eligible, and how do I apply?
If you are interested in taking your teaching to the next level, this program is for you! There are no age or degree requirements - just an interest in improving your skills as a voice teacher and a commitment to engaging throughout the duration of the program. Any NATS Boston member may apply to be a mentee. Applications open October 15th, and the submission deadline is December 31st (DEADLINE EXTENDED!), 2024.
Please contact Emily Siar at [email protected] with any questions.
How does it work?
From February through May of 2025, nine selected mentees will meet virtually with one of three mentor teachers. Mentees will each have the opportunity to show recorded footage of their teaching and receive detailed feedback from their mentor alongside other mentees in their cohort. Each mentee will also have one additional half hour alone with their mentor per month to discuss their progress, career, and any questions they may have. Additionally, mentor teachers will open up “observation hours” for mentees each month to observe voice lessons as they are available. In late August or early September of 2025, the Mentorship Program will culminate with a one day in-person event, open to the full membership.
Who are the mentors?
Our 2025 mentor teachers are: Dan Callaway, Ian Howell, and Clare McLeod. We are thrilled to have these brilliant leaders in voice pedagogy (and NATS Boston members themselves!) on board to work with our mentees.
What does it cost
This program is completely FREE for mentees! This is a significant investment for our chapter, as the value of the program for each mentee is approximately $2,500. It’s the “Year of the Teacher,” and we are invested in creating valuable opportunities for learning and relationship-building for our membership!
Who is eligible, and how do I apply?
If you are interested in taking your teaching to the next level, this program is for you! There are no age or degree requirements - just an interest in improving your skills as a voice teacher and a commitment to engaging throughout the duration of the program. Any NATS Boston member may apply to be a mentee. Applications open October 15th, and the submission deadline is December 31st (DEADLINE EXTENDED!), 2024.
Please contact Emily Siar at [email protected] with any questions.