Josaphat Contreras ’22 MM Wins 2026 Emerging Leaders Award from NATS

Tenor and voice pedagogue Josaphat Contreras ’22 MM has been honored with the 2026 Emerging Leaders Award from the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), recognizing his exceptional contributions as a performer, researcher, and educator.

Contreras, hailed for his “flexible” ringing tenor notes and his ease with diverse repertoire, completed his Master of Music in Voice Pedagogy at NEC, where he was also chosen as the commencement speaker for the Class of 2022. Since then, his career has spanned both performance and scholarship. Notable achievements include solo appearances with the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra at historic Mechanics Hall, his debut in Mexico as Don Ottavio in Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the historic Teatro Ángela Peralta in Mazatlán, and performances with the Boston Pops Orchestra as a Holiday Singer in an eight-show run at Symphony Hall.

In addition to his performance career, Contreras has made significant scholarly contributions. In 2023, he won first prize for his Mariachi research at the National Opera Association poster presentation competition and presented his findings at the Pan-American Vocology Association, Arizona State University, and the International Congress of Voice Teachers in 2025. He has also performed with Boston Lyric Opera, On Site Opera, and toured southern Spain in April 2025 with Ariel Ramírez’ Missa Criolla.

Contreras continues to build his international presence as a Fulbright COMEXUS García-Robles Scholar for 2024–2025, based in Mexico City, where he focuses on Mexican folk music and Mariachi vocal technique.

Offstage, Contreras enjoys spending time with his partner, Amanda, and their daughter, Ava Michelle. The Emerging Leaders Award further cements his growing influence as both a performer and educator in the voice community.