LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 23, 2010) − Eight University of Kentucky School of Music students won their divisions at the 2010 Kentucky District of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition held Oct. 22 and 23, at Berea College. In addition to the university's winning vocalists, eight other UK students took honors in the 18 divisions of the vocal competition.
The eight UK students that took first place at the NATS Kentucky District competition are:
- baritone Jacob Waid, of Paducah, Ky., a voice performance and arts administration student of Endowed Chair, Professor of Voice Cynthia Lawrence, winner of the Freshman Men Division;
- baritone Charles Calhoun, of Raceland, Ky., a voice performance and arts administration student of Lawrence, winner of the Sophomore Men Division;
- coloratura soprano Monica Dewey, of Atlanta, Ga., a student pursuing majors in voice performance and arts administration and a minor in German who studies with Director of UK Opera Theatre Everett McCorvey, winner of the Junior Women Division;
- bass-baritone Matt Turner, of Jackson, Ky., a student pursuing a major in accounting and minor in voice performance who studies with Associate Professor Dennis Bender, winner of the Junior Men Division;
- baritone Reginald Smith Jr., of Atlanta, a voice performance and choral music education student of McCorvey, winner of the Senior Men Division;
- mezzo-soprano Melissa Snow-Groves, of Louisville, Ky., a voice performance student of Lawrence, winner of the Advanced Intermediate Division;
- soprano Jessica Pearl French, of Lexington, a graduate student in voice performance who studies with Lawrence, winner of the Advanced Women Division; and
- tenor Adam VonAlmen, of Lima, Ohio, a graduate student in voice performance who studies with Bender, winner of the Advanced Men Division.
Winners of each division received small honorariums to help defray the expenses associated with competing.
In total, 16 of UK's competitors advanced to the district finals. In addition to the eight winners, eight more UK students earned second and third place honors. The second place UK finalists, who received an award, are:
- tenor Elliot Lane, of Louisville, a student majoring in voice performance and arts administration who studies with Professor Noemi Lugo, Sophomore Men Division;
- soprano Rebecca Farley, of Henderson, Ky., a voice performance student of Bender, Junior Women Division;
- tenor Philip Eschweiler, of Golden Valley, Minn., a voice performance student of Lawrence, Junior Men Division;
- mezzo-soprano Brittany Lewis-Williams, of Miami, Fla., a voice performance student of Lawrence, Senior Women Division; and
- coloratura soprano Holly Flack, of Portland, Ore., a graduate student in voice performance of Lawrence, Advanced Women Division.
UK's third place finalists, who received an honorarium are:
- tenor Evan Johnson, of Redwing, Minn., a voice performance student of Lawrence, Freshman Men Division;
- tenor Francisco Bedoy Solarzano, of Ayutla Jalisco, Mexico, a voice performance student of Lugo, Sophomore Men Division; and
- baritone Ron Wilbur, of Kennesaw, Ga., a student pursuing a major in music education and a minor in voice performance who studies with Lugo, Junior Men Division.
The National Association of Teachers of Singing Inc. (NATS) encourages the highest standards of the vocal art and of ethical principles in the teaching of singing; and promotes vocal education and research at all levels, both for the enrichment of the general public and for the professional advancement of the talented. The organization also publishes The Journal of Singing, a scholarly journal comprised of articles on all aspects of singing and the teaching of singing, written by distinguished scholars in their fields. Founded in 1944, NATS is now the largest association of teachers of singing in the world and boasts more than 6,500 members in the United States, Canada, and more than 25 other countries around the world.
