Cynthia Linton, Mezzo-soprano
Renowned mezzo-soprano and an extraordinary teacher of voice, Mrs. Cynthia Linton taught voice at the University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, from 1969 until her retirement in 2008. She is Professor Emerita of Music/Voice. Mrs. Linton was head of the Vocal Area in the Department of Music at UM for almost 30 of her 40 years on the music faculty. She taught voice to vocal performance majors, vocal music education majors, graduate, doctoral, and BA students with a major in music and a few minors from time to time. Her students have won national, international, and global competitions and have performed on stages around the world. She has groomed excellent teachers.
Mrs. Linton has been totally dedicated to the NATS organization throughout all these years, having served in the offices of President, State Governor, and Southern Region Governor. She continues to pay her dues, respond to emails, and engage in the NATS community. In May of 2026, Mrs. Linton turned 90, which hasn’t stopped her from being professionally active, as she is still teaching private students, singing in the Oxford Civic Chorus (as a tenor now), and continuing her own music education through webinars focused on the latest in vocal pedagogy. She is truly worthy and deserving of the honor of receiving the NATS for a Lifetime Award.
The winner at our Southern Region NATSAA competition was Nathaniel Richards and our alternate was Imani Francis.
Southern Region NATSAA Winner: Scott Purcell, baritone, student of Dennis Jesse, Louisiana State University
1st Runner Up - Annalee Crawford. mezzo-soprano, student of Viola Dacus, Mississippi College
The Southern Region of NATS is thrilled to announce our two Honorable mention winners at the National Student Auditions that took place in 2022.
Payton Tanner received an Honorable Mention in the Upper Classical Treble category. Payton is a student of Susan Hurley who is on faculty at Mississippi University for Women.
Matthew Aiken received an Honorable Mention in the Advanced Classical TBB category. Matthew is a student of Danielle Watson, a Teaching Assistant at The University of Southern Mississippi.
Pictured are our two winners and their teachers. Congratulations to both!
by Dr. Loraine Sims
It is my privilege to write this article about my dear friend and mentor, Patricia O’Neill, Professor Emerita at LSU. I first met Patt when I was a doctoral student at LSU. Her gentle but demanding manner in classes won me over immediately. Her wicked sense of humor greatly enhanced the diction and song literature classes. I have heard her sing in recital many times and can attest that she is a consummate artist. Her performance of art song was so inspirational. I was also lucky enough to hear her Irish song concert a few times where she accompanied herself on the Irish harp. As someone who could never dream of being a one-woman show, I was blown away! I have attended a few of her Alexander Technique workshops and appreciate that she is person of great depth. My students who have had the privilege of being in her AT classes have all given glowing reviews of that work. She has reinvented herself many times since I’ve known her, including her directorial venture with my colleague Sandra Moon in several productions of Terrence McNally’s Broadway hit, Master Class. I invite you to read about her long and celebrated international career, but I think some quotes from four of her former students would tell you more about her than simply a list of her accomplishments.
Jo Kathleen Miller Orr died Tuesday, November 17, 2020 surrounded by her family, in the hospice unit of North Mississippi Medical Center, Tupelo, of an extended illness. She was 75 years old.
Jo was a prominent voice teacher and musician who taught at Itawamba Community College for 22 years, serving as Chairman of the Music Education Department, as well as teaching voice and choral music. She taught voice to scores of students and imparted her great love of music to hundreds through music appreciation classes.
Jo served as a founding member and soprano soloist for the Tupelo Community chorus, soloist with the Tupelo Symphony, Jackson Symphony, Greenville Symphony and other regional orchestras. She was active in the National Association of Teaching of Singing, having served as President of the Mississippi Chapter. She served as President of the Fortnightly Musicale of Tupelo from 2001 – 2003 and President of the Mississippi Federation of Music Clubs from 2005 – 2007. She was active in the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts and attended “Music Week” at Lake Junaluska, NC for many years, serving as soloist and presenter.
Donations may be made to the Jo Miller Orr Scholarship Fund at CREATE, Inc., P.O. Box 1053, Tupelo, MS 38802. Jo will be greatly by those who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Prof. Frohnmayer was chair of Loyola's voice department for over 30 years. His family is excited to announce the posthumous publication of Professor Philip Frohnmayer's book, Breathe and Tell a Story: Reflections on Singing, Music, and Life.
Each year during the finals of the regional auditions, the current region governor and past region governors assess the performances of the first place winners from classifications seven (junior women) through sixteen (older advanced men) to determine whether an additional recognition should be made for one who “shows the greatest promise of having a professional career” in performance.
Winners of this award have included
- Imani Francis, Louisiana State University, student of Loraine Sims
- Sarah Cage, Southeastern Louisiana State University, student of Alissa Rowe
- Kathryn Domyan, Loyola University, a student of Drew Montegut
- Prentiss Mouton, Louisiana State University, a student of Loraine Sims
- Chelsea Miller, Louisiana State University, a student of Loraine Sims
- Jacob Watson, Ouachita Baptist University, a student of Jon Secrest
- Keely Futterer, Arkansas Tech University, a student of Jon Clements
- Kristi Corie, Louisiana State University, a student of Loraine Sims
- Vincent Turregano, Centenary College, a student of Horace English
- Paul Gamble, University of Mississippi, a student of Bradley Robinson
- Stephen Ray, Ouachita Baptist University, a student of Jon Secrest
- Lisette Oropesa, Louisiana State University, a student of Robert Grayson
- Don Frazure, Northeastern Louisiana University
- Cliff McGowan, Mississippi College, a student of Gerald Claxton
- Gregory Warren, Centenary College, a student of Gale Odom
- Paul Groves, McNeese State University, a student of Robert Grayson
- Laura White Eads, Harding University, a student of Arthur Shearin
- Jane Redding, University of Mississippi, a student of Cynthia Linton
(This list is a work in progress. If you know of persons who should be included on this list and are not, please send that information to the region governor).
Each year members of the Southern Region are encouraged to nominate qualified collaborative pianists for the James Ronald Brothers Collaborative Pianist Award. To qualify, the nominees must have rendered five or more years of service to the region through collaborative accompanying at the annual fall auditions, including the year of nomination, must demonstrate high achievement as a collaborative pianist, and should exhibit an encouraging and mentoring attitude toward his/her assigned singers.
Winners of this award have included:
- Tyler Kemp, Mississippi College
- Charles Lloyd, Jr., Southern University
- Laura Long, Blue Mountain College
- Gini Law, University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
- Richard Seiler, University of Louisiana at Monroe
- Susan Monroe, Ouachita Baptist University
- Kumiko Shimizu, Delta State University
- Geraldine Hubbell, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- Ann B. Rye, Henderson State University
- Charles Effler, Southeastern Louisiana University
- Phyllis Walker, Ouachita Baptist University
- Maria Curry, Louisiana State University
- Cindy Fuller, Ouachita Baptist University
- Ann Simpson, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- Raisa Vordman, Southeastern Louisiana University
- Neva White, Harding University
- Carol Joy Sparkman, Mississippi College
- Gay Grosz, Centenary College
(This list is a work in progress. If you know of persons who should be included on this list and are not, please send that information to the region governor).