Executive Overview
In a joint announcement that bridges the gap between vocal pedagogy and cutting-edge voice science, the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and The Voice Foundation have named Dr. Nicholas Perna as the recipient of the prestigious 2025 Van L. Lawrence Fellowship Award. This coveted honor recognizes Perna’s exceptional contributions to vocal arts education, leadership, and scientific inquiry.
The fellowship package includes a $2,000 research stipend designed to directly support Perna’s pioneering investigation into velopharyngeal opening (VPO) variability among collegiate treble singers. Additionally, the award grants him registration and travel support to present and participate in the landmark 54th Annual Symposium: Care of the Professional Voice, scheduled to take place from May 28 to June 1, 2025, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Perna, an associate professor of voice and the newly appointed director of vocal pedagogy at the University of Colorado Boulder, stands at the intersection of modern voice science and practical teaching application. His current study aims to decode the complex biomechanics of nasality and vocal tract adjustments—specifically examining how treble singers manage velopharyngeal closure as they ascend into higher vocal registers across Western Classical (WC) and Musical Theater (MT) genres.
This in-depth feature explores the dimensions of Perna’s research, his extensive leadership footprint within NATS, the historic legacy of the Van L. Lawrence Fellowship, and the broader implications this study holds for the future of vocal training, health, and pedagogy.
Detailed Chronology: From Pedagogue to Fellowship Laureate
To understand the weight of Dr. Nicholas Perna’s receipt of the 2025 Van L. Lawrence Fellowship, one must examine the trajectory of a career defined by an unwavering commitment to both artistic excellence and scientific rigor.
Academic Roots and Leadership Trajectory
Perna’s journey in vocal pedagogy is marked by continuous engagement with the professional communities that shape modern singing instruction. A dedicated member of the NATS Colorado/Wyoming Chapter (part of the West Central Region), Perna has steadily expanded his sphere of influence from regional teaching studios to national governance.
Demonstrating a profound dedication to institutional development, Perna was elected to the NATS Board of Directors, where he currently serves a pivotal four-year term as the Vice President for Outreach (2022–2026). In this capacity, he has spearheaded initiatives to connect vocal educators across diverse demographics, bridging academic institutions, independent studios, and global communities. Furthermore, Perna has served as the poster paper coordinator for numerous NATS national conferences—a role that demands rigorous evaluation of emerging research, including his organizational oversight at the most recent 2024 national gathering in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Expanding the Digital Pedagogy Landscape
Beyond traditional academic channels, Perna has positioned himself as an innovator in educational media. Alongside co-host Sarah Welch Pigott, Perna produces VocalFri, a weekly podcast dedicated to demystifying voice science, pedagogy, and industry trends. VocalFri is proudly housed under NATSCast, the official podcast network of NATS. Through this platform, Perna has translated complex laryngological and acoustic concepts into accessible, engaging audio content consumed by thousands of voice professionals, speech-language pathologists, and students worldwide.
Transition to the University of Colorado Boulder
The timing of the 2025 Van L. Lawrence Fellowship coincides with a major professional milestone for Perna: his recent appointment as the Director of Vocal Pedagogy at the University of Colorado Boulder. For Perna, this transition carries a unique historical resonance.
Reflecting on the honor, Perna noted a profound genealogical link within the field of voice science:
"On a personal note, receiving this honor in my first year at University of Colorado Boulder as the Director of Voice Pedagogy is particularly meaningful. Van Lawrence was one of the voice scientists with whom our program’s founder, Berton Coffin, collaborated as he came to his own observations of the singing voice."
This lineage connects decades of pioneering pedagogical thought—from Coffin’s classic vowel modification theories to Perna’s modern, technologically driven acoustic and aerodynamic investigations.
Supporting Context & Metrics: Decoding the Science of Velopharyngeal Opening
To fully appreciate the scope of Dr. Perna’s award-winning research, it is essential to examine the underlying physiological mechanics, the specific research questions, and the collaborative team driving the project forward.
The Mechanics of Velopharyngeal Opening (VPO)
At its core, Perna’s research focuses on the velopharyngeal port—the muscular valve formed by the soft palate (velum) and the posterior and lateral pharyngeal walls. In normal speech and singing, this valve opens and closes to regulate airflow between the oral and nasal cavities. When the velopharyngeal port is closed, air is directed entirely through the oral cavity (oral resonance). When open, air escapes through the nasal cavity, introducing nasal resonance (nasality).
While excessive or unwanted nasality is often discouraged in traditional Western Classical singing, controlled nasality and adjustments in velopharyngeal opening play a nuanced, functionally vital role across various vocal styles—particularly in commercial music styles like Musical Theater.
Breaking Down the 2025 Fellowship Research Agenda
Perna’s fellowship-supported study directly targets several critical gaps in current voice science literature. Titled broadly around velopharyngeal opening variability in collegiate treble singers, the study is guided by three primary research inquiries:
- Pitch-Dependent VPO Variability: Does the velopharyngeal opening vary as treble singers increase their pitch? While anecdotal observations suggest adjustments occur, empirical data tracking real-time VPO changes across registers remain scarce.
- Genre-Specific Comparisons (Western Classical vs. Musical Theater): How do trained Western Classical (WC) singers and Musical Theater (MT) singers differ in their VPO adjustments as pitch increases? The study seeks to isolate stylistic physiological adaptations that define genre-specific tone production.
- Contact Quotient (CQ) Correlations: Is there a correlative behavior between VPO adjustments and the contact quotient (derived from electroglottography)—specifically, how vocal fold closure patterns shift in tandem with velopharyngeal adjustments as pitch rises?
Clinical and Pedagogical Significance
The implications of Perna’s hypotheses extend far beyond the laboratory. As Perna explains, there is strong anecdotal evidence suggesting that treble musical theater singers may systematically increase VPO as they ascend in pitch and transition into their "mixed voice."
If validated by empirical data, this study could revolutionize how voice teachers approach upper-register training in musical theater. Specifically, it could provide singers and pedagogues with actionable frameworks to execute climactic, high-intensity notes with greater physiological ease, reduced laryngeal tension, and enhanced vocal health.
A Collaborative Scientific Enterprise
Rigorous contemporary voice science is rarely a solitary endeavor. Perna has assembled a multidisciplinary team to ensure methodological soundness and robust data collection:
- Dr. Joshua Glasner (Lions Voice Clinic) provided crucial assistance with research design, bringing advanced clinical expertise to the study’s protocols.
- Alice Del Simone and Benjamin South, serving as graduate research assistants, provide vital laboratory support, data processing, and subject management.
Official Statements: Honoring a Legacy of Excellence
The Van L. Lawrence Fellowship is not merely a financial grant; it is one of the highest collaborative honors in the vocal arts community. Established jointly by the National Association of Teachers of Singing and The Voice Foundation, the fellowship honors the memory of Dr. Van L. Lawrence, a pioneering laryngologist who dedicated his life to the care of professional voice users and fostered an unprecedented spirit of cooperation between singing teachers, voice scientists, and otolaryngologists.
Bridging Pedagogy and Medicine
The fellowship is awarded annually to an individual who has demonstrated excellence in teaching, a commitment to active research, and a clear vision for advancing the scientific understanding of the singing voice. By supporting researchers like Dr. Perna, the fellowship ensures that the clinical insights of laryngology directly inform the daily pedagogical practices of studio voice teachers.
Leadership Recognition
Leaders from both sponsoring organizations expressed immense enthusiasm for Perna’s selection. Representatives from NATS highlighted Perna’s tireless advocacy, noting that his leadership as Vice President for Outreach and his digital footprint through VocalFri make him an exemplary ambassador for the organization’s core mission: encouraging the highest standards of singing and fostering ethical principles in the art and teaching of singing.
Similarly, executives from The Voice Foundation emphasized the alignment between Perna’s focus on acoustic-aerodynamic interactions and the foundational goals of their annual symposium. The presentation of his research findings at the 54th Annual Symposium: Care of the Professional Voice in Philadelphia represents the ideal culmination of the fellowship cycle, placing Perna’s work before an international audience of leading otolaryngologists, speech-language pathologists, singing voice specialists, and master pedagogues.
Future Outlook: The Road to Philadelphia 2025 and Beyond
As the academic year progresses, Dr. Perna’s research laboratory at the University of Colorado Boulder is moving into the active data-collection phase. With the financial backing of the $2,000 Van L. Lawrence Fellowship grant, the project is equipped to acquire specialized instrumentation, manage participant protocols, and process high-resolution aerodynamic and acoustic datasets.
Milestones on the Horizon
- Spring 2025: Finalization of data collection concerning collegiate treble singers across Western Classical and Musical Theater cohorts. Statistical analysis of VPO variability, pitch ascension, and contact quotient correlations in collaboration with Dr. Joshua Glasner and graduate assistants Del Simone and South.
- May 28 – June 1, 2025: Dr. Perna travels to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to participate in the 54th Annual Symposium: Care of the Professional Voice. There, he will engage with the global voice science community, absorb cutting-edge clinical research, and lay the groundwork for presenting his findings.
- Post-Symposium Dissemination: Preparation of formal manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication in premier voice science journals, alongside dedicated episodes on VocalFri to translate these empirical discoveries directly to the global community of voice teachers and performers.
A Lasting Impact on Vocal Pedagogy
The intersection of science and art has never been more vital. As musical theater demands unprecedented vocal versatility, endurance, and power from performers—often starting at the collegiate level—empirical studies like Perna’s are essential. By replacing guesswork with quantifiable biomechanical data, research into velopharyngeal opening variability promises to safeguard vocal health while expanding the artistic palette of the next generation of singers.
Through his leadership in NATS, his dynamic work at the University of Colorado Boulder, and his cutting-edge scientific inquiries, Dr. Nicholas Perna continues to shape the future of vocal arts. The 2025 Van L. Lawrence Fellowship serves as a well-deserved recognition of his past achievements and a powerful catalyst for the discoveries yet to come.
About the Sponsoring Organizations
- The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS): Founded in 1944, NATS is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world, with thousands of members in the United States, Canada, and more than 35 other countries. NATS is dedicated to elevating the standards of vocal teaching and promoting vocal art through instruction, science, and research.
- The Voice Foundation: Established in 1969, The Voice Foundation is the world’s premier organization dedicated to the care of the professional voice. Through its multidisciplinary symposia, publications, and research grants, the Foundation bridges the gap between medicine, science, and the artistic community.
