About Us 

The National Society of Arts and Letters (NSAL) of Florida  is comprised of an outstanding group of volunteers who support the aspirations of local emerging talent in the performing, visual and literary arts.

Each year, NSAL offers a variety of opportunities for students to apply for scholarships and competitions at both the local and national level.

In addition, our chapter partners with several South Florida universities including Lynn University and Conservatory; Florida Atlantic University; New World School of the Arts and University of Miami Frost School of Music to award annual scholarships to deserving students in various artistic disciplines.

NSAL founded a chapter in Florida in 1981 and has been affiliated with the not-for profit parent organization ever since. Since its founding in 1944, the National organization has discovered stars such as Shirley MacLaine, actress/dancer/writer; Jessye Norman, opera singer; Megan Hilty, Broadway and television star; Awadagin Pratt, pianist; Amanda McKerrow, prima ballerina; and our chapter’s international success story, opera singer Nadine Sierra.

We encourage students and parents to explore each season’s opportunities and to reach out with any questions. To fulfill our mission, we look towards community leaders join us in our quest to discover, support and mentor exceptional talent!

For more information please contact President  Shari Upbin  at ShariUpbin@gmail.com.

A Brief Glimpse into the History of the NSAL

In 1944, at the end of World War II, a group of Washington, D.C. dignitaries, diplomats, and a “Who’s Who” from the arts and the aristocracy came together and launched the National Society of Arts and Letters.

Believing that “a nation is only as great as its cultural standard,” First Lady Bess Truman hosted a grand reception at the White House and President and Mrs. Truman helped promote this new organization and its endeavor to discover, mentor and give financial support to exceptional young artists.

The Washington Post covered the reception at the White House and in a story stated, “The nation’s capitol has long been accustomed to brilliant and talented women but even the Washingtonians must perk up interest at the great and varied accomplishments of the women composing this new organization.” Today, happily and thankfully, men are a vital part of NSAL.

NSAL aims to discover talented young people at the beginning of their careers and provides scholarships and competitions in art, dance, drama, literature, music, and musical theatre, and works to advance their careers and creative opportunities. Excelling at the chapter level allows competitors to progress to national competitions and many stars have been discovered. Among these are Shirley MacLaine, actress/dancer/writer; Jessye Norman, opera singer; Megan Hilty, Broadway and television star; Awadagin Pratt, pianist; and Amanda McKerrow, prima ballerina, and opera star Nadine Sierra who was discovered through the Florida Chapter.

NSAL of Florida Chapter is proud to announce our Board of Directors and Committees. These outstanding volunteers dedicate their time and talent to support our local emerging artists.

President: Shari Upbin

Vice President:  Alyce Erickson

Recording secretary:  Kirsten Stanley

Treasurer: Wendy White

Members at Large:  Brian Edwards, Arlene Herson, Jacob Andreas

Past President:  Dr. N’Quavah Velazquez

Michaela (Angela) DiCosola                

Florida Atlantic University

William Roderick Faulds                     

Director Florida Atlantic University, University Galleries                                                                                         

Irvin M. Lippman

Executive Director, Boca Raton Museum of Art                                              

Carol Prusa 

Professor, Visual Arts, Florida Atlantic University    

Clarence Brooks

Florida Atlantic University

Steven Caras                        

Dancer, subject of Emmy Award-winning PBS documentary and Internationally-acclaimed dance photographer

Jonathan Stuart Cerullo        

Award-winning Director, Producer and Choreographer

Maurice Brandon Curry         

Dancer and Executive Artistic Director, New York’s Eglevsky Ballet Company

Cynthia Harvey   

Dancer and Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre’s JKO School

Heather F. Lescaille

Dancer and Dean of Dance A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts

Daniel Lewis      

Dancer, Teacher, Choreographer and author

Christopher Wheeldon  

Dancer and Tony Award-Winning International Choreographer

Gordon Wright

Dancer, Executive VP and Director of the Harid Conservatory

Desmond Gallant

Florida Atlantic University

Joe Gillie

Consultant for Musical Theatre and Drama

Kathryn Johnston

Florida Atlantic University 

Andrew Kato 

Director, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Fred Conrad 

Photojournalist and fine arts photographer

Stephen Crowley  

Pulitizer award winning, former New York Times photographer and Visual Historian

Cathaleen Curtiss  

Current Director of Photography, Buffalo News,White House News                                               Photographers Association’s Photographer of the Year, former Vice President of Global Photography at AOL                                               

Faran Fagen 

Teacher, Pembroke Pines Charter High School   

Jack Foreman  

AP Photography Teacher,  Pembroke Pines Charter High School

Stephen Germana  

AP Photography Teacher  Jupiter Community High School

Melissa Glosmanova

2018 Dean, Digitial Media  A. W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts

Sarah Knudtson

AP Photography Teacher, Jupiter Community High School

Mickey Osterreicher, Esq.

Award winning photo-journalist in print and broadcast,

General Counsel to National Press Photographers Association

Peter Stodolak

2017 Dean, Digital Media, A. W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts

Rob Sweeten  

AP Photography Teacher, Boca Raton Community High School

Lorraine Vazquez 

AP Photography Teacher, Pembroke Pines Charter High School

Dr. Eric Berlatsky

Florida Atlantic University

Carl Hiaasen  

Award-winning Author

Dr. Becka McKay

Author, Associate Professor ofTranslation and Creative Writing, Florida Atlantic University

Michael McKeever 

Playwright

Dr. Marcella Munson

Florida Atlantic University

David J. Poissant 

Author, University of Central Florida           

Dr. Daniel Andai  

Dean of Music, New World School of the Arts;

Artistic Director Killington Music Festival;  Concertmaster, Miami Symphony

David Cole 

Head of Strings, Professor of Cello - Lynn Conservatory of  Music

Guillermo Figueroa

Music Director, Conductor, Violin, Lynn Conservatory of Music

Michael Finn

Distinguished Artist-in-Residence, Chamber Music and orchestral repertoire

Dr. Irena Kofman 

Director of Keyboard Studies FAU Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters

Lisa Leonard 

Professor and Department Head of Instrumental Collaborative Piano, Lynn Conservatory of Music

Elmar Oliveira  --Retired

Distinguished Artist, Professor of Violin, Lynn Conservatory of Music

Marc Reese

Assistant Dean, Professor of Trumpet, Lynn Conservatory of  Music

Dean Jon Robertson  

Academician, Conductor, pianist, Lynn Conservatory of Music

Joseph Robinson--Retired

Oboe - Lynn Conservatory of Music - New York Philharmonia

Dr. Roberta Rust 

Piano Department Head, Lynn Conservatory of Music

Michael Tilson Thomas

Music Director, San Francisco  Symphony and Artistic Director New World Symphony

Daniel Baiggi  

Director - Palm Beach Opera

Jeffrey Marc Buchman

Director – Opera 

Susan Danis

General Director and CEO, Florida Grand Opera  

Susan Dorchin

Senior Instructor, Voice,  Florida Atlantic University

Dr. Patricia P. Fleitas  

Director of Vocal Studies  Florida Atlantic University

Dr. E. J. Hardenbergh 

Associate Professor of Music;  Chair, Department of Vocal  Performance;

Program Director,  Vocal Performance, University of Miami

Alan Johnson

Music Director, Frost Opera Theater, Frost School of Music, University of Miami

Dr. Sandra McClain   

Private Voice Instructor

Marilyn Mims 

Resident Artist in Voice and  Director of Opera Workshop Palm Beach Atlantic University

Dr. Stacie Rossow 

Associate Director of Choral and Vocal Studies, Florida Atlantic University

Mark Alexander   

Executive Director, Theatres, Palm Beach State College

Caryl Fantel

Award-Winning Music Director; Music Coordinator, FAU Department of Theatre and Dance

Lynn McNutt  

Assistant Professor Theater, Florida Atlantic University