Vocal Students Show Well at Regional Conference

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Department of Music students and faculty at the NATS Conference in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

The Fall 2017 National Association of Teachers of Singing Southern Regional Conference was held at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The conference hosts hundreds of vocal pedagogues, performers and students for a three-day conference and student auditions. The Department of Music in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences had a large contingent of students and faculy attend the conference with a strong showing of UA students advancing in the auditions.

Moon-Sook Park, S. Michael Shuman and Christopher MacRae represented the university as vocal teachers and judges at the event. Park gave a guest performance at the event singing three Korean Art Songs to great applause. Tomoko Kashiwagi, Hannah Mindeman Shuman and Lisa Auten performed with the students as collaborative pianists. There were some 400 entries at the auditions with 17 UA vocal students competing in 21 categories, of which UA students advanced in 17 categories.

Six students advanced to final rounds and placed in their respective categories:

• Chris Senty, 2nd Place – Senior Men (student of Moon-Sook Park)
• Jordan Brown, 2nd Place – Hall Johnson Spiritual (student of Chris MacRae)
• Dekarius Dawson, 4th Place – Hall Johnson Spiritual (student of Chris MacRae)
• Cheri Headrick, 1st Place – Older Advanced Women (student of Moon-Sook Park)
• Ismaelena Serrano, 2nd Place – Older Advanced Women (student of Moon-Sook Park)
• Siyu Lou, 3rd Place – Older Advanced Women (student of Moon-Sook Park)

Again this year, the vocal area's representation at this conference has grown to record numbers. This continued sign of the area's ongoing growth is a testimate to strong recruitment and superb teaching. With a faculty of four vocal instructors, an opera professor, and two choral directors, the vocal area at the University of Arkansas is a vital component of the department. Students enjoy a unique setting and dedicated instruction with opportunities to perform in a number of choral ensembles, opera theatre, and musical theatre, all on campus. For more information on the vocal studies area, contact area coordinator Christopher MacRae.