Natalie Cummings

Natalie Cummings, Soprano, has been praised as having “(a) lush, full-bodied and beautiful tone” by the Austin-American Statesman and “a big voice that didn’t sacrifice purity of tone for volume” by the New Orleans Times-Picayune. A teacher and performer from the Austin, Texas area, Dr. Cummings holds a Bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. Equally interested in solo and choral performance and pedagogy, she was recently awarded the Joan Frey Boytim Award for Independent Teachers from the National Association of Teachers of Singing  (NATS) and served as a section leader for the 2021 TMEA All State treble choir. She is the Independent Studio Teacher Liaison for the Texoma region of NATS as well as serving on their High School Vocal Fellowship committee. Her research interests include the alignment of solo and choral pedagogy, voice science, and issues of gender and race in vocal pedagogy and she has presented her research on these topics to the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and the Texas Choral Directors Association (TCDA).

A two-time Houston District winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Awards and National Semi-Finalist of that same competition, Dr. Cummings has also been awarded Second Place in the Texoma NATSAA Competition, was a finalist in the Houston Gilbert and Sullivan Society Competition, Second Place winner in the Mid-Texas Symphony Vocal Competition, finalist in the Bel Canto Scholarship Foundation competition, Audience Choice in the Lois Alba Aria Competition and a semi-finalist in the Dallas Opera Guild Competition. She has appeared on stage around her home state, performing with Austin Opera, Spotlight on Opera, and Alamo City Opera, Austin Baroque Orchestra, Texas Bach Festival, and as a soloist with the TMEA All State Choir and the UT Symphony Orchestra, as well as in recital. She currently resides in Austin, Texas with her husband and their children, and maintains a full studio of vibrant and brilliant voice students.