Dr. Dorothy Sawatski's vocal study began it the age of 12 with Alice Henniger in her Bel Canto Studio. Dr. Sawatski sang her first formal recital at the age of 13. Her vocal study continued through an unusually active four years of performance at Texas Women's University. Post graduate study, coaching, and professional singing continued in New York professional vocal coaches. Her musical experiences have taken place in many areas of the United States, with focus in opera, oratorio, concert performances, soloist with symphonies and concert bands, church soloist, musical theater, radio and television. Her musical interests also have included conducting choirs, ensembles, directing musical theater, and opera.

As a voice professor, she has had many winners in State, Regional, and National competitions, many of whom are actively involved in singing around the world. Two of her students have been NA TSAA finalists. She has served as judge for numerous competitions including the Metropolitan Opera, NATSAA National Competition, Songwriters National Competition, and many others. She is a charter member of Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity and she chartered the chapter at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Dorothy joined NATS in 1967, serving as State Secretary/Treasurer until named Governor of NATS of Arkansas. During those years, the southern region of NATS was formed. She remains on the Southern Region Board of Control. Other activities in NATS include several years serving on the Membership Committee, liaison member to the NATS Foundation, publicity chairman of the National Convention held in New Orleans in 1984, hosted a national workshop at UALR in the summer of 1989, elected National Workshop Chairman for two terms (St. Louis, Tampa, Albuquerque, Gatlinburg, Kingston, RI, Vancouver, BC.), hosted State and Regional conferences and the 40th National Conference held in Little Rock in 1990. The Southern Region honored Dorothy with the Distinguished Service Award in 1991. She currently is serving on the National Financial Advisory Committee and has served on the National Nominating Committee. Recently, Dr. Sawatski was asked to serve on the National Ethics Committee of NATS.