HIGH POINT, N.C., May 8, 2015 – Four High Point University students have qualified to audition in the national competition of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, which features the best talent among vocal students in the U.S. The national competition will be held in June.
They qualified for nationals by placing during the Mid-Atlantic Regional vocal competition on March 27-28 at the University of Maryland.
Madison Jordan, a senior majoring in voice and theater, won first place in musical theater for his age division. This is the second time he has won this honor as a NATS competitor.
Summer Kiesel, a junior theater major and music minor, and Ashley Russell, a freshman voice major, both won third place for musical theater in their respective age divisions.
Roxanne Daneman, a junior major in voice and theater, was awarded honors and has been invited to audition for the national competition as well.
“These students won at the North Carolina state competition held earlier this year, which qualified them for this Mid-Atlantic regional competition. Qualifying for the regional competition alone is a very big deal as it is highly competitive,” says Candice Burrows, instructor of voice and co-director of vocal studies. “They have worked tremendously hard in a highly competitive field of the arts, and I am happy to see them being recognized at the national level for their accomplishments.”
The NATS competition requires contestants to perform four songs from musical theater works dating from prior to 1960 and forward to present day. In addition, students must demonstrate high range and low range dominant singing while engaged in acting out the dramatic roles.