Students Compete at National Association of Teachers Singing Competition
Pictured left to right: junior Michael Duffy, sophomore Jayme Lowe, sophomore Paige Stadler and junior Meredith Locke. Photo by Jenna O’Laughlin.
by Miriam Lipke
Four Concordia students participated in the annual state National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition on Friday, Oct. 7. The Competition took place at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln and hosted singers from around the state of Nebraska.
The Concordia participants were sophomores Paige Stadler and Jayme Lowe, along with juniors Meredith Locke and Michael Duffy.
Stadler received first place in the Second Year of College/Independent Studio Women’s category and Locke received second place in the Third Year of College/Independent Studio Women’s category.
“It was a fun experience that was enriching and challenging,” Locke said.
Duffy, Lowe and Locke are students of Dr. Talea Bloch, adjunct professor of voice. Stadler is a student of Dr. Anne Gray, also an adjunct professor of voice.
The Nebraska NATS competition is open only to the students of NATS members in ninth grade through graduate school. Students are placed into categories based on their age gender, and whether they choose to compete with classical or musical theater repertoire.
Many Concordia voice teachers are members of NATS and have been active in the NATS competition for years, but last October was one of the first times in recent years where Concordia students took part in the competition. Locke received first place in both Lower College Women Musical Theater and Sophomore Women Classical divisions that year.
This year, Duffy and Lowe competed in musical theater categories while Stadler competed in a classical category. Locke chose to enter in both musical theater and classical categories.
The state NATS competition is divided into two rounds. Within the first round, participants must sing three to four songs in either classical or musical theater genres, depending on the category they have entered. Literature sung by Concordia students in the first round ranged from “Beau Soir” by Debussy to “Much More” from the musical “The Fantasticks”.
Judges determine who advances to the second round, where auditions are shorter and participants may only sing one selection from their competition repertoire. After advancing, Locke sang “In dem Schatten Meiner Locker” by Hugo Wolf and Stadler sang “Porgi Amor” by Mozart.
Concordia voice teachers are glad to see more students becoming involved in the competition. This November, Locke will also compete in the regional NATS competition held in Kansas City. Regional NATS includes participants from multiple states, and students can gain advancement to the national competition.
However, teachers do not send students to the NATS competition merely to receive placement. Both Bloch and Dr. Gray stated their belief in the value of performing for experience.
“We go for comments,” Bloch said. “It’s all about learning.”
The NATS competition allows students to receive comments and criticism from multiple judges and allows them to hear other singers. Gray also explained the benefits of students’ mental and physical preparation when put in the “hot seat” of performance.
NATS creates a great opportunity for Concordia voice students to connect and learn at a state level. As Concordia celebrates those who participated in this year’s Nebraska NATS competition, the university may look forward to sending an increasing number of students to the NATS competitions in order that more may reap the benefits of experience in music and grow as artists.
Update: Locke qualified for nationals in both Musical Theatre and Classical by placing second in Junior Women Classical and third in Upper Division Women’s Musical Theatre (a combined junior and senior division) at regionals.
