Singer-songwriter Anna Goldsmith travelled to Knoxville, Tennessee, to compete in the National Association of Teachers of Singing's (NATS) annual National Student Audition (NSA) for the first time last month. She came home a champion.
Before it became known as the NATS Student Auditions, the NSA competition began in 1952 at the Southwest District Convention. This year's event included 36 categories in classical, commercial, musical theatre and the Hall Johnson Spirituals competition.
With over 1,000 preliminary entries and 400 semifinalist auditions, Anna Goldsmith is one of this year's winners.
Goldsmith, who will turn 17 years old this month, won first place in the CM 3B — Upper High School Commercial Music Treble category, which means that she competed against other students in grades 11 and 12 in pop and rock.
She sang three songs throughout the entire process, which spanned many months: Black Sheep by Metric, Somebody To Love by Queen, and Call Me When You’re Sober by Evanescence — which she sang in the final round.
“I auditioned at Western University at the NATS NSA Great Lakes Region auditions on March 2," she said. "And I was asked to audition in the next round which was by video.
“After the video round, I found out that I made it to (the) semi-finals in Knoxville. On June 28, I sang the same three songs for three adjudicators, and later that same day we all attended (in) the ballroom where they made the finals announcement.”
“I was so excited to be one of three people selected. On June 29, I picked one of the songs to perform for three different adjudicators in a finals concert. It was at the end of the concert that the placements were announced and certificates awarded,” Goldsmith said.
She competed against two other singers in the final round, during which each competitor sang one song.
“This year was the inaugural year for all of the commercial music categories. It is such an honour to win this — especially in the first year,” Goldsmith said.
When asked about her music coaches, she said, “I have been training with Margot Hamilton, at The Melody In Me — (in) Barrie — since I was nine years old.”
“She has been my vocal coach, as well as my piano teacher, this whole time (since 2016). Margot encouraged me to audition for NATS, she helped me pick my songs, and she coached me on them. I also train with Irina Bobrow and Lorraine Lawson, at Lawson Vocal Studios — (in) Toronto — since 2022 for both performance and voice.”
Goldsmith said Innisfil has been very supportive.
“My community, fans, family and friends have been so supportive," she said. "They were all cheering me on from home and waiting to hear how NATS NSA went.”
Goldsmith is working with the Canadian Musicians Cooperative this summer and she will apply to university in the fall.
“In June, I was showcased at Canadian Music Week which was an incredible honour. I was the second-youngest artist to ever be selected to showcase.”
“I learned so much at the conference workshops with industry pros such as musician managers, booking agents, and the Chief of Global Music for Spotify. My showcase was to an awesome crowd at the legendary Cameron House, and Murray Cook, the original Red Wiggle from Australia, was there.”
To learn more about Goldsmith, check out her website.
