The American Traditions Vocal Competition, coming off an outstanding 25^th anniversary season, has announced new members to its 2018-19 board of directors – a collection of passionate, dedicated individuals who are engaged in their communities and ready to ensure the continued success of the beloved nonprofit musical institution. The new members will assist ATC Artistic Director Mikki Sodergren and continuing board members in leading the organization into a fresh era for its 26^th season.

The ATC is held annually in Savannah, Georgia, and attracts highly-talented vocal artists from across the country. The organization seeks to celebrate and preserve all styles of classic American music. The competition awards over $35,000 in cash prices and, as part of community-driven service initiatives, the organization provides musical education, outreach and performances for Savannah residents of all ages. This season, the competition will be held Feb. 18-22, 2019. The coveted Gold Medal includes a prize of $12,000 and an invitation to perform a professional solo engagement with the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra.

Dr. Allen Henderson will take on the role of president for the 2018-19 season and is joined by returning board members Susan Whitaker, who takes the position of vice president, Jim Wann, who will serve as secretary, and Danny Cohen who will serve as past president. Newcomer Marc Tate will round out the executive board as treasurer. Lauren Cleland, Leah Coleman, Kellee Haselton, Dr. Christopher Jordan and Beverly Willett make up the remaining new class of board members. 

“We are fortunate to welcome some dynamic leaders to our board this year,” said Henderson.  “Several of our long-time leaders concluded their active service on our board and we are grateful for their devoted service to and continued support of the ATC.” 

Among those rotating off the board is long time champion of the ATC Elizabeth Oxnard who has tirelessly supported and helped develop it since its inception. “There is no one who loves the ATC more than Elizabeth Oxnard and we celebrate her vision and leadership that has sustained the organization,” said Henderson.

Henderson is uniquely suited to lead the board of a vocal competition, thanks to his local connections, exceptional talents and decidedly relevant experience. The established baritone soloist teaches voice and diction at Georgia Southern University’s Statesboro campus and is an accomplished performer in his own right. Henderson has appeared in concerts, operas, and oratorio across the country, equipping him with experience and exposing him to various markets and scenes, which will prove helpful as the ATC continues its ascent as a distinguished national competition.

Henderson was winner of the 1995 National Federation of Music Clubs Artist Awards and, since then, has appeared throughout the U.S. in recitals under the auspices of the NFMC. Among his other awards are: second prize in the McCammon Opera Competition of the Fort Worth Opera, second prize in the Miami Opera Young Patronesses of the Opera Competition, second prize in the Opera Guild of San Antonio Opera Talent Search, winner of the vocal division of the Hemphill-Wells Sorantin Awards for Young Artists in San Angelo, Texas, and winner of numerous NATS auditions. He was also a regional finalist for the Metropolitan Opera auditions and won the CCM Corbett-Treigle Opera competition.

Henderson also is executive director of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and has provided innovative leadership in running auditions and competitions for that organization that attract over 15,000 singers each year.  Additionally, he conceived of and serves as executive editor of the So You Want to Sing… book series published by Rowman and Littlefield. The series will soon have twenty books in publication on various genres of singing such as Country, Jazz, Light Opera, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Early Music, and other genres. 

 “I know what it is like to be in that moment, to just take a deep breath, focus, and channel all that you have into a competition,” Henderson said. “All of your training and talent comes into play, and it is exciting to move people with your voice. I’m looking forward to hearing all of the talented contestants and serving with my fellow board members for the 26^th season.”

Cleland, a University of Georgia graduate and an Atlanta native, joined the Visit Savannah team in 2015. During her first seven years in the tourism industry, she was named one of the Top Women in Travel by WITTI, one of the Top 20 Most Influential Tourism Professionals on Twitter, and one of Destinations International's 30 Under 30. She is currently the director of digital marketing for Visit Savannah, Visit Tybee and the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce.

Coleman is a proud Oklahoma native who is loving her new life in America’s most beautiful city, Savannah. She entered into the Savannah music and theatre scene as Maria (The Sound of Music in Concert) and Sister Mary Amnesia (Nunsense) for the Arts of Skidaway concert series, as well as Hermia (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Johanna/Mrs. Vontessle (The Legend of Sleepy Hollow) for Savannah Stage Company. Her favorite roles include Wendla Bergman (Spring Awakening), Jo March (Little Women), Carrie Pipperidge (Carousel), Esther Smith (Meet Me in St. Louis) and Sister Mary Amnesia (Nunsense).

Haselton earned her Bachelor’s Degree in music education from Illinois College, has served as a music educator in Illinois and Michigan. She has been a pianist for numerous theatrical and musical events as well as for many notable Broadway artists such as Gavin Creel, Timothy Shew, Michael Gruber and Karen Ziemba. She has directed the musical components for over 25 shows, including Quilters and The Music Man for Jacksonville Theater Guild in Jacksonville, IL; High School Musical and White Christmas for Kalamazoo Civic Theater; and Avenue Q and The Wizard of Oz for Portage Northern High School. Haselton directed the children's choirs for two national tours of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and a national tour of Kenny Roger's Christmas Show. She is the proud mom of Sarah and Nat Zegree.

Jordan has had production highlights that include leading lyric baritone roles in Don Giovanni, The Consul, Carmen, Tosca and La Traviata, among others. Jordan has appeared with various opera companies in the Southeastern United States and abroad. He is equally comfortable on the musical theater and dramatic stages, having performed in productions of Show Boat, Carousel, The Amen Corner, Tambourines to Glory, and The Colored Museum. He holds degrees from the University of Alabama (D.M.A.), Florida State University (M.M.E.) and Florida A&M University (B.S.).

Marc Tate is a retired executive from General Motors having worked in financial and data systems, manufacturing operations and vehicle product development for 37 years. He graduated from Kettering University with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering and Michigan State University with an MBA degree. His financial management experiences include serving as director for the Chamber of Commerce in Saginaw, MI and as president of three HOA organizations in addition to working with development of the data and financial systems for Silver Moon Ice Cream manufacturing and distribution. Tate and his wife, Carol, have lived in Savannah since 2000 and have been involved with the ATC for several years as drivers for the judges and, in recent years, developing and providing real time tabulation and reporting for competition results.

Wann is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the lead composer/lyricist for the Tony-nominated (Best Musical) Pump Boys and Dinettes. He also originated the role of “Jim” in the 1982-1983 Broadway hit, a pioneering work for actors-musicians that has been presented across the country and around the world. In 2014, the New York Times’ Charles Isherwood, reviewing the Summer Encores production at NY City Center, wrote that Pump Boys “hums along like a vintage Mustang.” In 2010, the Carolina Chamber Music Festival commissioned A New Bern Romance, a song cycle composed by Wann and performed by baritone Ron Raines and a string quartet to commemorate the 300^th anniversary of the founding of New Bern, North Carolina. Wann’s CDs include Pardon My Southern Accent: Jim Wann Sings Johnny Mercer.

Whitaker was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. She attended The College of Wooster in Ohio and graduated with a degree in social work. She and her husband Ron moved to The Landings in 1998. Whitaker was employed as a social worker at the Akron (Ohio) General Medical Center and later served as the Regional Coordinator for Head Start in the New Hampshire/Vermont region. In Akron, she was a member of the Junior League and a volunteer at the Akron General Medical Center, Planned Parenthood and the PTA. Whitaker also taught English as a second language while there. She served for two years as the president of the Upper Main Line YMCA Swim team in Berwyn, PA, and was elected to the Hennepin County Park Board of Commissioners in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Before moving to Savannah, Whitaker was active in Hospice Atlanta. In Savannah, she volunteers at America’s Second Harvest, Park Place Outreach, Savannah Philharmonic, Interfaith Hospitality Network and Landings Landlovers. Whitaker serves on boards for Savannah Hospice and the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, in addition to ATC. She is also a member of The One Hundred, which benefits the Dwaine & Cynthia Willett Children's Hospital at Memorial University Medical Center.  

Willett is a former NYC entertainment lawyer-turned-writer. She has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Newsweek, and many other national magazines and newspapers. Locally, she writes for South and Savannah Magazine. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Penn State University, and her J.D. from Catholic University, Columbus School of Law. While in Manhattan, she served as chairman of the board of MCC Theater, today one of NYC’s hottest off-Broadway theaters. Here in Savannah, Willett serves on the boards of the Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless and the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home Foundation. She’s most proud of her two daughters.

The remaining, returning ATC board members are Daniel Cohen, past president, Les Anderson, Carol Bell, Patty Gignilliat, Nathan Godley, Starr Holland, Beckett Spring and Debby Warner.