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Published Nov. 27, 2019

Nine voice majors in the University of Louisiana Monroe School of Visual and Performing Arts participated in the Southern Region National Association of Teachers of Singing Conference and Student Auditions held Nov. 6–9, at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Ark. The NATS Southern Region encompasses Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi.

VAPA students attending included: vocal performance majors: Leslie Hobgood, freshman;
Preston Anderson, freshman; Hannah Parker, sophomore; Hanna Atsedewoin, sophomore; Leah Huber, junior; Morgan Meyer, senior; Jarryd Nemeth-Gutierrez, senior; and Taylor Witherspoon, senior; and vocal music education major Davonzelle Moncrief, junior.

The participants are the students of Claire Vangelisti, DMA, who serves as Louisiana District NATS governor.

ÍøÆØÃÅ music faculty attending included Vangelisti, Richard Seiler, DMA, Nancy Carey, DMA. and Justin Havard.

In the preliminary round of student auditions, all ÍøÆØÃÅ students received composite scores between 80–100 points (out of 100) and seven received composite scores of 90–100 (out of 100). Advancing to the semi–final round were Hobgood, Anderson, Atsedewoin, Huber, Meyer, Nemeth–Gutierrez and Witherspoon.

Parker and Moncrief attended an open masterclass given by Loraine Sims of LSU.

In the final results of the student auditions: Anderson – first place in Freshman TTB; Atsedewoin – first place in Sophomore Treble; Huber – first place in Junior Treble; Meyer – tied for first place in Senior Treble; Nemeth-Gutierrez – fifth place in Senior TTB; Witherspoon – first place in Lower Advanced Treble; Huber – fourth place in Upper College Musical Theater Treble; Nemeth-Gutierrez – fifth place in Upper College Music Theater TTB.

Seiler served as collaborative pianist for 19 students, two NATSAA contestants, three faculty members on the regional Members Recital and the NATS guest artist.

Havard served as collaborative pianist for 15 students and for Carey’s performance in the NATSAA competition. Carey served as an adjudicator throughout the conference and performed in the NATSAA competition. 

Vangelisti served as an adjudicator for the conference and was selected to present a 10–minute performance on the regional Members Recital with Seiler as pianist.