Paul M. Patinka – Region Governor

Paul M. Patinka (they/them/Mx.) lives in beautiful Providence, RI, as a voice pedagogue, independent researcher, and freelance musician. They are a faculty member of Dean College, Providence College, and Ensemble Performing Arts Studio, and serve as an Associate Editor of the “Diverse Voices” column in the Journal of Singing with Zipporah Peddle and as the New England Region Governor of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Patinka’s collaborative and independent research has been published in the Journal of Singing, Journal of Voice, and College Music Society Symposium and presented at national and international conferences. See paulpatinka.com for more information.

Jennifer Burks – Auditions Chair and Treasurer

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, with extensive choral and solo experience. Jennifer was a winner of the 2022 Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra’s Collegiate Vocal Competition and debuted as their Soprano Soloist in Messiah. She was a Fellowship Artist with the Boulder Bach Festival in 2019, and other notable appearances include the Bach B Minor Mass, Puss in Boots with Boulder Opera, and the role of First Spirit with Arapahoe Philharmonic in Die Zauberflöte.

Christina Haldane – Development Liaison

Dr. Christina Raphaëlle Haldane (she/ her), soprano has an international performance career as an opera singer, orchestral soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. In 2022 she joined Mount Allison University as an Assistant Professor in Voice. Her ethos of collaboration and connectivity leads her to foster meaningful relationships with students, faculty, community partners, and music industry professionals to enable affirming voice communities to thrive. She has an international profile as a leader, clinician, and adjudicator, and is grateful for her path as a lifelong learner, scholar, and teaching artist. Christina lives in Moncton, New Brunswick, with her partner Patrice and their two diva dog Pomeranians, Wally and Sissi.

Mariateresa Magisano - Connections Mentorship Program Coordinator

A winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Ms. Magisano recently performed the role of Liù in Turandot in Calgary Opera’s 2017 season. Prior to this Ms. Magisano sang the role of Kitty Hart in Dead Man Walking with L’Opéra de Montréal; Mimi in La Bohème with Nickel City Opera; Micaëla in The Green Mountain Opera Festival’s Carmen; Beth in the Canadian premier of Adamo’s Little Women with Calgary Opera; Micaëla in Vancouver Opera’s Carmen; and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro with Opera Lyra Ottawa.

Olga Valdes – Social Media Manager

Olga Valdes is an Oregon native. She recently earned her master’s in music at New England Conservatory with a concentration in Voice Pedagogy. While at NEC, Olga sang in scenes as Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte) and Mrs. Winemiller (Summer & Smoke), and performed L’Eternita in La Calisto. Olga was student stage director for the Graduate Perkin Scenes at NEC in her second year, staging scenes from Cendrillon and Così fan tutte. In the summer of 2024 Olga worked as an Assistant Director for the Boston Wagner Institute directing a scene from Der fliegende Holländer.

Caroline Schiller – CA Atlantic Provinces District Membership Director

An artist equally at home in concert, opera, and music theatre repertoire, Caroline Schiller has participated in the creation and performance of opera and concert works with companies that include The Banff Centre, The Tanglewood Music Center, The Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, Festival of the Sound, The Charlottetown Festival, and The Indian River Festival. Some highlights of her concert and theatre work include performances with L’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal; the American premiere of Alexander Goehr’s Sing Ariel with the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, and performances as Christine in the original Toronto cast of Phantom of the Opera.

Joanne Scattergood – Connecticut District Membership Director

Ms. Scattergood has sung oratorio across New England with symphony orchestras, choral societies, and summer festivals. Highlights include Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis conducted by Robert Shaw in Souillac, France, and the world premier of James Sellers’ Chanson Dada at the Monadnock Music Festival in Vermont. Ms. Scattergood has sung under the batons of Edward Cumming, Michael Korn, Michael Lankester, John Rutter, Sir Michael Tippett, and Sir David Willcocks. She teaches voice at Central Connecticut State University, the Westminster School, and in her home studio, and, this past year, has assumed the position of Interim Artistic Director for the Ensign-Darling Fellowships.

Lori Marino – Granite State (NH & VT) District Membership Director

Mezzo soprano Lori Marino resides in Williston, Vermont, with her husband Greg and four children. The alto soloist for Vermont Philharmonic’s 2024 performance of Messiah, she also recently appeared in Opera Company of Middlebury’s productions of La fille du régiment, Fidelio, and Tosca. Lori has graced the stages of Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Times Square, and Princeton University Chapel, and is a member of the voice faculty at the University of Vermont and Shelburne Community School. She is a graduate of Ithaca College’s Conservatory of Music and Westminster Choir College where she earned a master’s degree in Voice Pedagogy.

Jacklyn Grigg – Maine District Membership Director

Jackie Grigg received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Colorado and her Master of Music and Advanced Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from New York University. As a graduate student in New York, she taught private voice lessons and group voice classes to undergraduates at the university. Teachers and mentors include Jeremy Aye, Brian Gill, Dianna Heldman, Bill Wesbrooks, and Bonnie Draina. While at NYU, she performed as Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme in Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins, and was featured in Massenet’s Cendrillon, as well as workshopping several new musicals.

Sarah Tuttle – Maine District Membership Director

Sarah Tuttle enjoys a multifaceted career as a performer, teacher, and public radio host, and has a special interest in art song and collaboration with today’s composers. In 2021, Sarah launched Songs From Here, an initiative dedicated to commissioning new vocal works in her home state of Maine. Sarah is a host on Maine Public Classical, where she hosts Songbook, a weekly vocal program with an emphasis on art song. She maintains a voice studio at 317 Main Community Music Center, is a regular adjudicator at competitions around the state, and has been a Maine NATS board member since 2022.

Katherine Saik DeLugan – Massachusetts District Membership Director

Mezzo soprano Katherine Saik DeLugan is a cross-genre vocalist and performing arts educator who currently serves as a Lecturer in Music in Voice at Smith College. She holds a Bachelor of Music from UMass Amherst, and a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music. Katherine regularly appears as a concert soloist with regional opera companies, orchestras, choirs, colleges, and universities. She programs numerous public recitals exploring the rich traditions of Western Art Music as part of her academic work. Besides performing, she has been active as a stage director, administrator, and producer for schools and local arts organizations.

Angelica Alvarez – Rhode Island District Membership Director

Angelica has a degree in Vocal Performance from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. She has taught voice lessons for 20 years around the country and overseas. As a teacher, Angelica works with students on classical and musical theater repertoire. Angelica has performed with the Virginia Symphony, Virginia Opera, Colorado Springs Chorale & Symphony, The Opera Factory and with regional theaters.  She has toured Japan and Poland singing jazz and folk music.