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, associate professor of singing at the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Conservatory of Music, has been unanimously elected to membership of the .

Established in 1945, the AATS consists of nationally recognized teachers of singing and voice experts, as well as esteemed performers of classical and contemporary commercial music, noted authors, and voice science researchers. The academy consists of only 30 members, and all members are admitted solely by invitation.

Manz will be inducted in a ceremony at Columbia University’s Teachers College on February 10.

"I am honored to be elected to this esteemed organization and grateful to my many colleagues who have been mentors or supported my work through the years," says Manz, who has served on the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï faculty since 1993. "This is an exciting opportunity to carry the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Conservatory name forward as a place of influence in the teaching of singing."

Each member of the AATS has served in leadership positions in professional organizations including the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the Voice Foundation, the Music Teachers National Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the New York Singing Teachers' Association. For much of this time, a member of the academy has served as editor of the leading publication in the field, the Journal of Singing. Members have also made significant contributions to annual symposiums sponsored by the Voice Foundation, and to international congresses, institutes, and festivals.

A mezzo-soprano who has enjoyed a wide-ranging performance career, Manz serves as director of the conservatory’s and director of the .

She played an instrumental role in developing the , a three-day conference focusing on issues pertaining to vocal health, scheduled for January 31 through February 2 on the campus of ÍøÆسԹÏ.

Before joining the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï faculty, Manz taught at the University of California and at St. Olaf College. She is a member of the .