Four Voice Students Win at NATS Auditions

MANSFIELD, PA— Four Mansfield University voice students came away winners in their respective categories at the Allegheny Mountain Chapter of the National Association of Teaching of Singing (NATS) auditions held November 5 at Penn State University in State College.
Derrek Stark and Derek Gracey were winners in the senior men category. John Mink was a winner among sophomore men and in freshman men, Martin Schmidt was a winner.
The winners were featured in a final concert at the end of the auditions, where Schmidt sang Go, Lovely Rose by Roger Quilter, Mink performed Non più andrai from Le nozze di Figaro, Derrek Stark sang Ah! mes amis from La fille du régiment, and Derek Gracey sang Bella siccome un angelo from Don Pasquale.
Seven MU students were semifinalists in the competition. They are Daniela DiBenedetto, Tiffany Eisner, Alex MacDonald, Holden Moyer, Tara Schumaker, Ethan Sherman and David Vest.
A total of 21 Mansfield students took part in the auditions, which included college and high school students from across Pennsylvania. All students received comment sheets from the judges, who were voice teachers and NATS members
“These auditions are a great opportunity for the students to get feedback about their singing, hear other students from around the area, and be exposed to a wide variety of repertoire,” Assistant Professor Alissa Rose said.
All the MU students study voice with Rose, Youngsuk Kim or Todd Ranney.
NATS is the largest association of teachers of singing in the world, with members in more than 25 countries, and the student auditions are one of the major activities of each NATS chapter.