Two Wayne State College students made history at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) National Student Auditions semifinals when they advanced beyond the preliminary stage of the national competition held June 27-29 in Knoxville, Tenn.
Elizabeth “Libby” Aschoff, a soprano from David City, performed in the classical and musical theater categories for college juniors and seniors. Emmett White, a baritone from Neola, Iowa, performed in the classical category for college juniors and seniors.
Shelly Armstrong, staff accompanist at Wayne State, performed with the students.
“The Department of Music is extremely proud of the dedication and hard work demonstrated by these students,” said Dr. Sarah Farr, vocal instructor at Wayne State. “This is an impressive accomplishment.”
Aschoff graduated in May with a bachelor of arts degree in Music Performance, and she graduated with Honorable Mention distinction (GPA between 3.50 and 3.69). White is scheduled to graduate in December with a bachelor of arts degree in Music Education. Aschoff and White both studied applied voice under the direction of Farr.
To qualify for national competition, five singers are selected from a preliminary regional competition. Wayne State is in the West Central region, which includes Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming. The top 15 in each category advance to the semifinals.
“Unlike sports, this competition includes singers from all college levels – small liberal arts, regional state schools, prestigious research institutions, and internationally recognized conservatories,” said Farr. “Wayne State students regularly compete at the state and regional level of NATS competitions and advance to the final round of each competition. This is the first year Wayne State students have moved beyond the preliminary stage of the national level competition.”
“Going to Knoxville was such an honor,” said White. “We were surrounded by the best singers in the nation, and the chance to hear them was unbelievable. I will never forget how lucky I was to sing in this beautiful recital hall and listen to others with such tremendous talent! Music is interwoven into people through traditions, cultures, and studying music. It was interesting to talk music with people from all over.”
“I feel so lucky to have had Mrs. Armstrong with us,” added Aschoff. “She helped us feel more at ease and prepared for competition. Frankly, I simply couldn't have done one of my large, complicated pieces without her. It felt so rewarding to be there. My biggest takeaway from judges’ comments is to work on body tension when singing, which illustrates just how complicated singing can be.”
For more information, contact the WSC Department of Music at 402-375-7359.
