Paul M. Patinka
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Current Region Governor

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Paul M. Patinka (they/them/Mx.) lives in beautiful Providence, RI, and works as a voice pedagogue, independent researcher, and freelance musician. They are fortunate to maintain a robust academic, community, and private teaching studio representing equal proportions of Contemporary Commercial, Musical Theatre, and Western Classical styles. Their teaching experience includes private lessons, class voice, choral ensemble direction, vocal coaching, and academic coursework with diverse student experience levels and communities. Paul’s teaching is grounded in critical music education philosophy, and they strive to hear each student's definition of success, center their goals and aspirations in lessons, and foster sustainable individualized techniques and skills across genres. This philosophy seeks a balance between doing and knowing so that students can integrate new experiences into immediate practice and individually replicate these ideas through guided sensory awareness, critical listening skills, and successful practice frameworks.
NATS Profile
Personal Website

Jennifer Burks
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Region Auditions Chair

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Jennifer Burks, soprano, is known for her “lovely, gleaming soprano voice” and “effortless virtuosity”. She performs a wide range of repertoire and has a passion for early and chamber music. Jennifer has extensive choral and solo experience. As a soloist, Jennifer was a winner of the 2022 Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra’s Collegiate Vocal Competition and debuted as the Soprano Soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the group in December of 2022.  Jennifer was a Fellowship Artist with the Boulder Bach Festival (BBF) in 2019. She has competed in numerous competitions, including NATS (2nd place, 2021), and the Lois Alba Aria Competition (Semi-finalist, 2018). In 2018 Jennifer was a finalist in the Denver Lyric Opera Guild competition and was awarded Honorable Mention. In 2020 she won 2nd prize in the Vocal Community Category of the 1st ever World Bach Competition. Other notable appearance include opera choruses with the Boulder Symphony Chorus, Bach B Minor Mass with BBF, Puss in Boots with Boulder Opera, and the role of First Spirit with Arapahoe Philharmonic in their adaptation of The Magic Flute.
NATS Profile
Personal Website

Eric Balboni
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Technology & Social Media Chair

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​​Tenor Eric Balboni currently teaches in the Greater Worcester Area in Massachusetts. Eric is a Professor of Practice in Music and the Voice Department Coordinator at Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts where he teaches voice lessons and vocal performance classes in addition to directing cabarets and opera scenes productions. At Anna Maria, Eric developed and implemented the Vocal Performance and Musical Theater minor programs. He holds a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance (Opera) and an Advanced Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from New York University. Eric’s teaching method is strongly based in an understanding of the science of the voice and its application to the individual voices in his studio. Eric helps his students to form good vocal habits and technique that will grow as their voices develop.
NATS Profile
Personal Website

Noel Smith
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Previous Region Governor

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​Noel Smith is a highly skilled singer, voice teacher, producer, pianist, and coach.  She has studios in both Boston and New York and many of her students have made it to Broadway:  Wicked (Elphaba), Mrs. Doubtfire (Christopher Hillard), Sing Street (Gary), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie) and tours: Rent (Maureen), Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary), Janis Joplin the Musical (Janis), Waitress (Jenna), Hadestown (Euridice US, Ensemble),  Sister Act, Elf, Baby Shark the Musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (swing). Noel works with professional child actors, and prepares high school students for entry into the top undergraduate and graduate musical theater and pop programs across the country.  She has taught at New England Conservatory’s Prep Program (guest teaching artist) and Walnut Hill School for the Arts (voice instructor and vocal coach).
NATS Profile
Personal Website