11/08/12 ema
HAYS, Kan. -- Nineteen Fort Hays State University students
competed recently against approximately 450 student singers from Kansas,
Nebraska and Colorado in the annual National Association of Teachers of Singing
(NATS) West Central Region Conference and Student Audition competition in
Lincoln, Neb.
The event began with a preliminary round where students sang
for a panel of judges. Finalists performed again for everyone present. In order
to sing in the NATS competition, a student must study with a current member of
NATS.
FHSU's Dr. Joseph Perniciaro and Dr. Ivalah Allen, both
assistant professors of music and theatre, took the students to the
competition.
Regional finalists and award winners:
BISON: Steven
Cornwell, senior, fourth place college senior men's division.
HAYS: Eriana
Holle, junior, fifth place junior women's division.
RUSSELL: Calder
Craig, fifth place graduate student men's division.
Regional semi-finalists:
HAYS: Max
Haverfield, sophomore, sophomore men's division; Rebecca Urban, sophomore,
sophomore women's division.
HOXIE: Karl
Pratt, senior, senior men's division.
QUINTER: Hayley
Funk, sophomore, sophomore women's division.
Regional master class participants:
KANOPOLIS: Alexander
Stout, junior, classical master class alternate.
HOXIE: Karl
Pratt, senior, classical master class.
Founded in 1944, NATS has more than 7,000 members in the
United States, Canada and over 25 other countries. NATS offers a variety of
lifelong learning experiences to its members including workshops, intern
programs, master classes and conferences. Students of NATS members have access
to one of the organization's widely recognized activities, the Student
Auditions.