Twenty-two Fort Hays State University students competed at the West Central Region National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) student auditions on Thursday, Oct. 31, in Emporia against singers from Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and portions of Wyoming.
Six students were selected as regional finalists and six were semi-finalists.
Dr. Ivalah Allen, assistant professor of music and theatre, told Hays Post that NATS is a competition between colleges as well as private voice teachers from the region. This year there were about 340 auditions, with divisions for each age level.
“There are high school, undergraduate and graduate divisions. With us specializing in undergraduate training of voices, this not only gives [students] a chance to see how they are doing in comparison to other freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors around the region, but it also gives them a chance to hear more advanced singers as well.”
Allen added that NATS is a great goal-builder for students. Each undergraduate competitor must have three songs memorized in various languages, and each graduate student must prepare six separate pieces.
Freshman and sophomores perform two pieces (one selected by the student, the other chosen by the judges). Juniors and seniors must perform all three. Graduate students have to perform at least three of their six songs.
On top of the preparation and commitment to vocal studies, students must also pay a $12 fee for entry, payment for the accompanist, and food/lodging, which Allen said totals about $100 that each performer must pay out of pocket. Allen said that this competition requires a great deal of dedication from students.
“It’s not only a beneficial thing for them in terms of their vocal studies; they have to be really committed to it also. They have to be as committed to it as we, the teachers, are. There’s a lot of time and extra effort that goes into it.”
Dr. Joseph Perniciaro, associate professor of music and theatre, said that every year FHSU does well at NATS. In talking to Hays Post, he was quick to give credit to his students.
“I feel very lucky that my students have continued to do well year after year, advancing both to semi-finals and finals. And this year is clearly no exception. I’m very proud of them all, they all sang really well. It’s a tough competition, particularly given our size compared to K-State, UNL, WSU… We represent the university well.”
Perniciaro added that this competition is a great example of how hard these students work year round. He said the goal moving forward is for students to continue to grow and develop “not only as musicians but also as artists.”
Students of Dr. Perniciaro to receive honors:
- Karl Pratt, Hoxie senior: second place in the graduate student men’s division.
- Morgan Soldan, Salina freshman: third place in the college freshman women’s division.
Pratt and Soldan also qualified to compete in the inaugural national student auditions in spring 2014. Pratt was also a semi-finalist for the college men’s upper division musical theatre.
- Max Haverfield, Hays junior: fourth place in the college junior men’s division.
- Eriana Holle, Hays junior: fifth place in college senior women’s division.
- Clayton Capra, Dighton freshman: fifth place in the college freshman men’s division.
- Hayley Funk, Quinter junior: semi-finalist for the college junior women’s division.
- Rebecca Urban, Hays junior: semi-finalist for the college junior women’s division.
- Jon-Luke Martin, Salina freshman: semi-finalist for the college sophomore men’s division.
- Kelli Veach, Hays, Thomas More Prep-Marian high school junior: semi finalist for the high school women’s division.
Students of Dr. Allen to receive honors:
- Lauren Kohpay, Winfield freshman: honorable mention in the college freshman women’s division.
- Cassandra Canto, Oberlin freshman: semi-finalist for the college freshman women’s division.
The below video is of Senior Karl Pratt singing “Younger Than Springtime” from the musical South Pacific. Video courtesy of Dr. Joseph Perniciaro.