link: Auburn students win NATS awards  

NATS student audition participation has grown to thousands each year. Students participate in chapter, district, and region auditions, receiving constructive feedback on their progress and deemed by members as one of the most important activities NATS organizes.

We thank all the young singers who have earned a spot to apply for the 2018 National Student Auditions. An exciting display of talented musicianship will unfold as we progress toward the semifinal and final rounds, taking place during the NATS 55th National conference this month in Las Vegas. 

Originally for classical repertoire only, auditions now encompass music theater, contemporary genres, and spirituals.

Below is a compilation stories from around the country about this season's regional winners, many of whom are auditioning at the national level.

Students advance to top 14 in national singing competition 

Charleston Southern University www.csuniv.edu

Charleston Southern University seniors Timmi Winston and Jairus McClanahan have both earned spots in the top 14 of the nation in their respective categories for the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) National Student Auditions.

SUU vocal students move to semifinals

Two Southern Utah University vocal students, choral music education major Ashley Stackhouse and vocal performance major Claire Robinson, have advanced to the semi-finals of the National Student Auditions of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

Dr. Lawrence Johnson, Chair of the Department of Music at SUU, said, “This is an incredible feat. They had to advance through a NATS local chapter round, a Cal-Western Regional round, and finally a national YouTube round in order to be in the top 14 singers in their categories, competing against hundreds of singers throughout the United States, truly making them the ‘best of the best’ of the nation's college singers. We are extremely proud and excited for our singers who are able to compete at such a high level and represent the teaching and artistic excellence at SUU.”

Fort Hays State University vocal students advance to national semifinals

Two vocal students of Dr. Joseph Perniciaro, associate professor of music at Fort Hays State University, will travel to Las Vegas in June for the national semifinal round of the National Association of Teachers of Singing National Student Auditions. Clayton Capra, a Dighton 2018 graduate, will compete in the upper college men’s classical division, and Jared Thom, Hays junior, will compete in the lower college men’s music theatre division. Leann Hillmer, pianist, helped the students prepare for their auditions.

Muhlenberg Voice Students Win Big at District Auditions

Muhlenberg voice students made a stunning showing at the District Auditions of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) this February at Moravian College. With 12 Muhlenberg students participating, eight walked away as prize winners in their respective divisions.

Top Honors for Three Webster Vocalists at NATS Auditions

Three Webster University music education majors took top honors at the St. Louis-area chapter auditions of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) on Feb. 24. First-year student Sarah Merrifield, sophomore Michaela Cruse, and junior Faith Boyd each won their respective divisions at the annual event. All are students of Heather McKenzie Patterson, adjunct professor of voice.

Covenant Students Compete at NATS

The weekend of March 23rd through the 24th, ten students from Covenant College’s Music Department traveled to Auburn University to compete in the Southeastern Region of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (S.E.R.N.A.T.S.). This competition is held in different cities every year to bring music majors across the region together in one place to compete. In order to compete at S.E.R.N.A.T.S., you must have taken voice lessons from a N.A.T.S. member for at least six months. Students are judged on tone, breathing/alignment, language/diction, and expression/artistry.

University vocal students advance to semifinals in national competition

Two Southern Utah University vocal students have advanced to the semifinals of the National Student Auditions of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Under the direction of professor Carol Ann Modesitt and accompanied by Tracey Bradshaw, Ashley Stackhouse, a choral music education major, and Claire Robinson, a vocal performance major, have shown talent and professionalism.

“This is an incredible feat,” said Lawrence Johnson, chairman of the music department at SUU. “They had to advance through a NATS local chapter round, a Cal-Western Regional round, and finally a national YouTube round in order to be in the top 14 singers in their categories, competing against hundreds of singers throughout the United States, truly making them the ‘best of the best’ of the nation’s college singers.

Voice Student Advances to National Competition

An Alabama State University student is one step closer to winning a national singing competition.

An Alabama State University student has advanced to compete in the national division of voice competition for collegiate music students, which is sponsored by the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). Kourtney Ellis will be competing in the final nationwide round that is being held next month in Las Vegas, Nev. Ellis, who hails from Stafford, Va., said that she always knew she would be a singer. She has been assisted by Tyrone Hayes, ASU's applied voice professor in the University’s Music Department.

Music and Theatre Students Bring Home Awards from Regional Competition

Auburn students in the music and theatre departments recently took home multiple awards at the 2018 Southeastern Regional National Association of Teachers of Singing (SER NATS) competition held this year at Auburn University. The annual competition is sponsored by the Southeastern Region of the National Association of Teachers in Singing (NATS) and includes competitors in collegiate voice and theatre programs from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Puerto Rico.

Lee Voice students place at NATS

Lee University School of Music recently sent 23 students to the National Association of Teachers of Singing Mid-South vocal competition, held at the University of Northern Kentucky. Several Lee SOM voice faculty also attended and served as judges. Students competed against universities from Kentucky and Tennessee, such as the University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and the University of Kentucky. Categories ranged from high school through each collegiate level up to post-graduate students competing at the post-advanced level. “NATS weekend is stressful and tiring, but also energizing and inspiring,” said Tony Deaton, voice instructor at Lee. “I am certain it is a very positive experience for our students. I believe they come away inspired to be better.”

DSU music students attend National Association of Teachers of Singing competition, two place

Six Dickinson State music students represented the University at the state National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition in Grand Forks Saturday, April 7. Eighty-four students from around the state participated in the event, in a variety of categories. Two Dickinson State University (DSU) students had the additional honor of placing in their category. Julianne Skaff tied for first place in the lower level musical theatre competition and Abigail Moberg took second in the freshman women’s category.

Congratulations to Texas Southern University's Breanna Lindsey

Congratulations to Texas Southern University's Breanna Lindsey on receiving 2nd place in her category in the recent National Association of Teachers of Singing competition! Breanna is one of our scholarship recipients through the Music Doing Good College-Bound Fund Scholarships in association with the President’s Leadership Council.

Singing Reinhardt students qualify for national competition

Year after year, Reinhardt University students qualify for the prestigious National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition through the southeastern region auditions.  This year is no different with many students from Reinhardt’s School of Performing Arts qualifying for the national competition.

From March 23-24, students competed from the studios of Dr. Reverie Berger, Mr. Pedro Carreras, Dr. Rebecca Salter, and Dr. Anne Schantz and delivered stellar performances to place in their categories.

Among the first-place winners include Victoria Hill, who placed in both categories of First Year Classical Women as well as First Year Music Theatre Women, and Nick DiPuma, who placed first in Upper Level High School Musical Theatre Men.

Senior Sings Her Way to First Place at NATS

Kathleen Clum won the Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Competition on March 23. She competed in the Musical Theater Category with 64 other singers. This was Kat’s fourth year to sing in this competition. Last week, she performed in the Upper School Talent Show. “I am always singing,” Kat said. “It’s part of what makes me ‘Kat.” I love watching musical productions and listening to music. I sing and make vocal recordings in my spare time and even enjoy making songs apply to my coursework at FWCD.”