KEARNEY, NE – Three members of Northeast Community College’s Show Choir and Concert Choir competed at a state competition recently, with two advancing to the final round.
Stewart Cramer, director vocal activities at Northeast, entered the students in the 2019 Nebraska NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) Student Auditions; the first year that Northeast has participated in the competition. The regional NATS Student Auditions offer the opportunity for the top performers in each region to compete with other top artists from around the country.
Freshman Cade Wilkinson, Tilden, and sophomores Shelby Laird, Pender, and Andres Hughes, Norfolk, competed with over 200 vocalists from Nebraska colleges and universities at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, which hosted the event.
Cramer said the competition was comprised of two rounds: preliminary and finals.
“I was excited to see that Cade and Shelby both advanced as finalists. All three students worked hard over the summer to prepare for the competition and we are looking forward to competing again next year!”
For the competition, the students had the opportunity to prepare and perform their pieces with Shelly Armstrong, collaborative pianist at Wayne State College.
Founded in 1944, National Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc. is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world with more than 7,000 members in the United States, Canada, and more than 35 other countries. Whether working in independent studios, community schools, elementary and secondary schools, or higher education, NATS members represent the diversity of today’s music landscape, teaching in all vocal styles.
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PHOTO ID: Cade Wilkinson, (left) Shelby Laird and Andres Hughes.