Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Dana Zenobi was competitively selected to present a lecture at the fall meeting of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, South Texas Chapter. Founded in 1944, National Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc. (NATS) is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world with nearly 7,000 members in the United States, Canada, and nearly 30 other countries internationally. They proudly hold their 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.

Her presentation titled, “Financial Mentorship Strategies for Voice Teachers,” focused on crowdfunding best practices, fiscal sponsorship for artists and the basics of searching for grants to individuals. Her presentation was inspired and informed by her work directing BELTA (Building Empowering Lives Through Art), a nonprofit organization that helps the fine arts grow through providing career development support to artists and musicians.

Choosing to pursue a career in the fine arts can be a life-altering act, and bringing that decision to fruition can sometimes be challenging. BELTA aims to make success possible for people of all backgrounds by showcasing the talent, vision, and dedication of emerging artists and connecting them with people who are inspired to lend a helping hand. As a Board Member and Director of BELTA, Zenobi works to foster a non-competitive, collaborative environment among all arts non-profits, and between all artists in an effort to strengthen, connect, and empower the capacity of the disciplines to grow and flourish with as few barriers to success as possible.