Dr. Carole Blankenship, soprano and professor and chair of music at Rhodes College, has been a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) for 30 years and has served the organization in many roles, including as president. The organization has now launched a fundraising initiative named the 80th Anniversary Fund to commemorate its rich history and to name three prizes in the classical category of National Student Auditions in honor of Blankenship, Karen Brunssen of Northwestern University, and Daniel Johnson-Wilmot of Viterbo University.
According to NATS, this recognition not only celebrates their extraordinary achievements but also recognizes them as examples of excellence, aspiration, and dedication for future generations of singers.
The mission of NATS is to advance excellence in singing through teaching, performance, scholarship, and research. From the local chapter level to national events, the organization offers workshops, intern programs, master classes, conferences, and the National Student Auditions, where singers perform and receive written feedback.
Originally for classical repertoire, the National Student Auditions now includes musical theatre, spirituals, and commercial music. Awards are presented in various categories, and NATS members provide thousands of hours of volunteer service to organize, execute, and adjudicate auditions each year.
Blankenship currently serves as a coordinator of the NATS Intern Program. Her other leadership roles include past president (2022-2024), president (2020-2022), president-elect (2018-2020), vice president for auditions (2012-2016), volunteer coordinator for national conferences (2006 and 2008), and president of the Memphis chapter (2002-2010).
In addition to presenting papers, master classes, and lecture recitals nationally and internationally, Blankenship has performed art song recitals in Sintra, Portugal; Marktoberdorf, Germany; The Foundling Museum, London; The Cell Theatre, New York; and The American Legation in Tangier, Morocco, just to name a few.
In 2016, Blankenship received Rhodes’ Clarence Day Award for Outstanding Research and/or Creative Activity. Her research is focused on the songs composed for the Composers Forum Laboratory in New York, 1935-1939, and the unpublished songs of 20th century composer Paul Frederic Bowles. She also has helped to increase the national awareness of music written by female composers such as Clara Schumann, Nadia Boulanger, and Libby Larsen.
A Rhodes music alumna, Blankenship joined the faculty in 1990.