Shorter University vocal performance students honored as finalists in regional competition

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Rome, Ga. — Four Shorter University students were named finalists during the Southeastern Region’s National Association of Teachers of Singing auditions on March 27-28. More than 470 college and university students from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands competed in the event, which was held at Auburn University.

Mary Saintfort, a freshman double-majoring in vocal performance and communications from Smyrna, Ga., performed “Son Tutta Duolo” by Alessandro Scarlatti. She earned first place in the first-year classical women division. Saintfort is a student of Adjunct Professor of Music Indra Thomas.

Katelyn Johnson, a junior vocal performance major from Atlanta, performed “Chacun le sait” by Gaetano Donizetti. She earned second place in the third-year classical women division. Johnson is a student of Associate Professor of Music Dr. Deborah Popham.

Avery Harris, a sophomore music performance major from Rome, performed “Nebbie” by Ottorino Respighi. He was a finalist in the second-year classical men division. Harris is a student of Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Jonathan Ten Brink.

Savannah Gillam, a junior musical theatre major from Acworth, Ga., performed “Someone Like You” by Frank Wildhorn from “Jekyll and Hyde.” She was a finalist in the third-year Musical Theatre women division. Gillam is a student of Adjunct Instructor of Music Sherri Seiden.

Johnson and Saintfort will both advance to compete in the first round of the National Student Auditions, which will be held July 7-10 at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro as part of the NATS summer workshop.

Dr. Alan Wingard, Dean of the School of Fine and Performing Arts, said the students who represented Shorter at SERNATS are a reflection of the quality vocal performance program the university offers.

“I take pride in the fact that our vocal program is growing in size and quality,” Dr. Wingard said. “The successes of our students at the recent NATS competition are commendable and demonstrate that Shorter can compete with the best schools in the Southeast in our vocal, choral, musical theatre and opera programs.”

Dr. Popham, who serves as a repertoire consultant for SERNATS, added that a number of Shorter University students were close to moving on to the next round of competition. Meredith Howard, a sophomore vocal performance major from Acworth, Ga., who competed in the second-year classical women, and Michaela Bell, a freshman vocal performance major from Newnan, Ga., who competed in the first-year classical women division, both made it to the semi-final rounds.

“Our four finalists were in the top five of their category and among the best singers in the region,” Dr. Popham said.

In addition to the Shorter voice faculty who attended SERNATS, pianists Daniel Ng, Gina Hicks, and Treva Sellers accompanied the students.

Source: Rome News

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