NATS winners James Hoskins, a high school voice student of Deaton’s, Davidson, Mangulabnan, Murphy, and Voznyuk
photo by Hannah Morgan
Four students from Lee University’s School of Music placed as finalists in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) regional auditions held this spring at Vanderbilt University.
There are three levels of competition over the course of two days: Preliminary, Semi-final, and Final Rounds. Over 60 regional voice professors attended to hear approximately 500 voice students. Ten of Lee’s voice faculty took 34 students to compete in 10 categories. Twenty-one of these students progressed to the Semi-finals and four progressed to the Final Round and performed in the Finals Concert for the entire delegation.
First place winners from Lee included Chelsea Davidson (Senior Women), Sonny Mangulabnan (Adult Beginner), and Vera Voznyuk (Advanced Women). Aaron Murphy placed second in Advanced Men. These singers are from the voice studios of Tony Deaton, Virginia Horton, and Dale Thomas. They were accompanied by pianists Rachel Appleton, Ying Chuan Chang, and Mary Beth Wickes.
Lee NATS members include voice faculty members Chery Brendel, Ron Brendel, Deaton, Andrea Dismukes, Dayne Frost, James Frost, Horton, Debbie Sheeks, Loralee Songer, and Thomas.
"Lee University has a great presence at these auditions,” said Dr. Dismukes, professor of music at Lee and trip coordinator. “In every level of competition our students presented themselves so well, professionally and artistically.”
NATS is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world with more than 7,000 members in the United States, Canada, and nearly 30 other countries. Its mission is to encourage the highest standards of the vocal art and ethical principles in the teaching of singing; and to promote vocal education and research at all levels.
Group photo of students and faculty who participated in the 2014 NATS auditions
photo by Hannah Morgan