NEWS: SUU’S DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC’S VOCAL STUDENTS SCORE AT N.A.T.S. REGIONAL COMPETITION

SUU’S DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC’S VOCAL STUDENTS

SCORE AT N.A.T.S. REGIONAL COMPETITION

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Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah: After beginning 2013 with a second place victory at the National Opera Association competition, vocal students from SUU’s Department of Music continue their winning streak. Dr. Keith M. Bradshaw, Music Chair, is pleased to announce that six of SUU’s vocal students placed in top positions in the Cal-Western Regional chapter competition of the National Association of Teachers Singing. When the final results were tabulated, SUU students placed first in two divisions with two second place and two third place finishers and an SUU graduate won in her division. The competition was held on April 27, 2013, in Las Vegas.

Junior Alex Byers took first place in the Upper College Men Division, while Sophomore Brandon Campbell won third place in Lower College Men. Junior Christina Meikle scored a second place victory in the Upper College Women Division. In the category of Music Theatre Men SUU dominated with a first place victory for Junior Jayson LeBaron, a second place win for Junior Trevor Walker and a third place showing by Junior Tyler Adams. Alumna Geneil Perkins (Class of 2012) won the top honors in the Graduate Advanced Women division. This outstanding success rate continues a trend seen in SUU’s vocal department in the past few years.

Each of Southern Utah University’s three full-time voice faculty members, Professor Carol Ann Modesitt, Dr. Lawrence Johnson and Dr. Kevin L. Baker, had students from their studios who won their division in the competition.  Adjunct faculty member Jackie Jackson had a student place as well. The results are particularly notable since this is a peer-reviewed competition. This broad representation of the voice faculty in the competition is a testament to the quality of the teaching that students enjoy every day at Southern Utah University. Additionally, collaborative pianists Mary Anne Andersen and Dr. Christian Bohnenstengelwere invaluable as they shared the stage, their talents and their insights into the music with the students.

According to Professor Modesitt, “Alex Byers performed in a master class given by Dr. Carol Kimball in which she illustrated her new book, Linking Poetry and Music. She worked with Alex on linking the poetry of Thomas Hardy with the music of British composer Gerald Finzi. Alex performed ‘Lizbie Brown’ and Dr. Kimball had him recite the poem after he performed it. She had him explain his interpretation of the poem, and then she spoke about the prose style of Hardy and Finzi's setting of the poem. She had Alex sing the song again. This time the audience greeted his new interpretation with thunderous applause and people proclaimed what a fantastic moving performance he had achieved.”

The vocal students’ outstanding achievements were accomplished through their hard work and dedication to excellence, cornerstones of the Department of Music’s programs.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE
The Southern Utah University College of Performing and Visual Arts is comprised of nationally accredited departments of Art and Design, Music, Theatre Arts and Dance, Center for Shakespeare Studies as well as a graduate program in Arts Administration. The College offers 16 different degree areas, including liberal arts Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees; professional Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and theatre degrees; and a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration degree. More than 60 full- and part-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 550 majors in the College. Over 1100 students enroll each year in over 195 arts classes on the SUU campus. The College presents 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year. The College’s affiliate organizations include the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery, American Folk Ballet, Utah Shakespeare Festival, and the SUU Ballroom Dance Company. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, contact the Office of the Dean at (435) 865-8561, or by e-mail at cpvamktg@suu.edu.