Barbara Hill Moore Honored with NATS Lifetime Achievement Award as Meadows Community Shines at National Conference
Professor Barbara Hill Moore received one of the profession's highest honors while faculty, students and alumni showcased the Division of Music at the 59th National Association of Teachers of Singing Conference.
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From July 3 - 7, faculty, students and alumni from Meadows’ Division of Music played prominent roles at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) 59th National Conference in San Antonio, TX. Their contributions culminated in one of the organization's highest honors when Professor Barbara Hill Moore received the NATS Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing decades of excellence as a performer, teacher and mentor.
Centered around the theme “Our Mosaic of Music,” the conference welcomed voice educators, performers and scholars from across the country and around the world for presentations, lecture recitals, and breakout sessions exploring the field of vocal pedagogy.
Hill Moore joined colleagues from the University of Alabama, Florida State University, and Augusta University to present "The Art of the American Spiritual: A Performance Workshop” in a session on July 5, while graduate student Josefina Maldonado, recipient of the 2026 NATS Artist Awards (NATSAA), performed with collaborative pianist Brian Bentley during the conference’s closing ceremony to great acclaim.
“The Meadows School of the Arts was exceptionally well represented throughout the conference, with faculty, students and alumni contributing in significant ways," said Leon Turner, chair of voice at SMU Meadows. "Their accomplishments highlighted the excellence and national reputation of [our] Division of Music.”
The conference also recognized Hill Moore's enduring influence on the profession by introducing the Barbara Hill Moore Emerging Teaching Artist Award. This national award honors her distinguished career as both an internationally respected teacher and accomplished performer while supporting voice teachers who are actively pursuing solo performance careers alongside their work in voice education.
Hill Moore received the NATS Lifetime Achievement Award during the conference’s closing banquet before an audience of former students, colleagues and friends. The honor was presented by internationally acclaimed soprano Laura Claycomb, who traveled from Turin, Italy, as a surprise guest for the occasion.
Following the presentation, Claycomb performed Mozart's concert aria Nehmt meinen Dank, ihr holden Gönner! ("Accept My Thanks, Kind Patrons"), accompanied by collaborative pianist Brian Bentley. The tribute concluded with Won't You Celebrate with Me, a newly composed work dedicated to Hill Moore by composer Lori Laitman, who accompanied the performance herself.
“Beyond these remarkable accomplishments, the conference provided outstanding opportunities for professional development, recruitment, scholarly exchange, and artistic collaboration,” reflects Turner on the event.
The many contributions of SMU faculty, students, and alumni throughout the conference reflects the enduring strength, leadership and national prominence of the Meadows School of the Arts and we are proud of all who represented SMU with such distinction.
Centered around the theme “Our Mosaic of Music,” the conference welcomed voice educators, performers and scholars from across the country and around the world for presentations, lecture recitals, and breakout sessions exploring the field of vocal pedagogy.
Hill Moore joined colleagues from the University of Alabama, Florida State University, and Augusta University to present "The Art of the American Spiritual: A Performance Workshop” in a session on July 5, while graduate student Josefina Maldonado, recipient of the 2026 NATS Artist Awards (NATSAA), performed with collaborative pianist Brian Bentley during the conference’s closing ceremony to great acclaim.
“The Meadows School of the Arts was exceptionally well represented throughout the conference, with faculty, students and alumni contributing in significant ways," said Leon Turner, chair of voice at SMU Meadows. "Their accomplishments highlighted the excellence and national reputation of [our] Division of Music.”
The conference also recognized Hill Moore's enduring influence on the profession by introducing the Barbara Hill Moore Emerging Teaching Artist Award. This national award honors her distinguished career as both an internationally respected teacher and accomplished performer while supporting voice teachers who are actively pursuing solo performance careers alongside their work in voice education.
Hill Moore received the NATS Lifetime Achievement Award during the conference’s closing banquet before an audience of former students, colleagues and friends. The honor was presented by internationally acclaimed soprano Laura Claycomb, who traveled from Turin, Italy, as a surprise guest for the occasion.
Following the presentation, Claycomb performed Mozart's concert aria Nehmt meinen Dank, ihr holden Gönner! ("Accept My Thanks, Kind Patrons"), accompanied by collaborative pianist Brian Bentley. The tribute concluded with Won't You Celebrate with Me, a newly composed work dedicated to Hill Moore by composer Lori Laitman, who accompanied the performance herself.
“Beyond these remarkable accomplishments, the conference provided outstanding opportunities for professional development, recruitment, scholarly exchange, and artistic collaboration,” reflects Turner on the event.
The many contributions of SMU faculty, students, and alumni throughout the conference reflects the enduring strength, leadership and national prominence of the Meadows School of the Arts and we are proud of all who represented SMU with such distinction.