School of Music students win at regional singing auditions

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Music took home the most awards at the 2009 West Central National Association of Teachers of Singing Auditions at Kansas State University the weekend of Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

UNL voice students earned 22 awards, nearly three times as many as its nearest competitor, Wichita State, which received eight awards. Kansas State and the University of Nebraska at Kearney each won five awards.

First-place winners and their categories from UNL included Adria Caffaro of San Antonio, Texas, junior women; Allison Harvey of Clive, Iowa, sophomore women; Jen Houser of Stoughton, Wis., graduate women; Patrick O'Halloran of Olathe, Kan., graduate men; Kendall Reimer of Carrollton, Mo., first-year women; and Stuart Richey of Kansas City, Mo., upper college musical theatre.

There were 365 student entries representing 19 universities and colleges and 53 voice teachers participating in this year's auditions. The West Central region of includes students in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming.

"UNL's reputation in the Midwest has been distinguished by the outstanding performances of the student vocalists, who earned nearly three times the awards of students from the other 18 participating universities in the West Central Regional student auditions," said Alisa Belflower, senior lecturer in voice in the School of Music.

The National Association of Teachers of Singing was founded in 1944 and is the largest association of teachers of singing in the world. The association offers a variety of lifelong learning experiences to its members, including workshops, intern programs, master classes and conferences.

A list of winning UNL students by hometown follows. Information includes category, place and UNL professor. In the musical theatre categories, "lower college" indicates freshmen and sophomores, "upper college" indicates juniors and seniors.

NEBRASKA

Bellevue: Mick Huntley, sophomore men, semifinalist, William Shomos.

Grand Island: Bryce Bartu, senior men, fourth, Kate Butler; Joshua Huls, first-year men, semifinalist, and lower college musical theatre, semifinalist, William Shomos.

Lincoln: Arica Coleman, sophomore women, third, and lower college musical theatre, semifinalist, Alisa Belflower; Jessie Cotton, graduate women, fourth, Belflower; Kelsey Denton, sophomore women, semifinalist, Kate Butler; Allison Frenzel, senior women, third, and upper college musical theatre, second, Belflower; Nicholas Soutsos, graduate men, second, Donna Harler-Smith.

Omaha: Tyler Gruttemeyer, lower college musical theatre, semifinalist, Alisa Belflower; Melanie Holm, sophomore women, semifinalist, and lower college musical theatre, semifinalist, Kevin Hanrahan.

Papillion: Sara Warner, first-year women, fourth, Donna Harler-Smith.

ELSEWHERE

Aberdeen, S.D.: Robert Klein, first-year men, fifth, William Shomos.

Ankeny, Iowa: Kamerin Churchman, first-year women, semifinalist, and lower college musical theatre, third, Alisa Belflower; Danielle Cisna, junior women, semifinalist, Belflower; Steph Hyatt, sophomore women, semifinalist, Kate Butler.

Bettendorf, Iowa: Hannah Kurth, first-year women, semifinalist, and lower college musical theatre, semifinalist, Alisa Belflower.

Carrollton, Mo.: Kendall Reimer, first-year women, first, Kate Butler.

Clive, Iowa: Allison Harvey, sophomore women, second, and lower college musical theatre, first, Donna Harler-Smith.

Colorado Springs, Colo.: Brett Guster, junior men, fourth, and upper college musical theatre, semifinalist, Alisa Belflower.

East Troy, Wis.: Zachary Smith, sophomore men, fifth, William Shomos.

Excelsior Springs, Mo.: Timothy Madden, first-year men, semifinalist, William Shomos.

Kansas City, Mo.: Stuart Richey, senior men, semifinalist, and upper college musical theatre, first, Alisa Belflower.

Manchester, Iowa: Cami Philgreen, junior women, second, and upper college musical theatre, third, Alisa Belflower; Jon Sill, sophomore men, semifinalist, Belflower.

Marion, Iowa: Adam Fieldson, senior men, second, and upper college musical theatre, semifinalist, Alisa Belflower.

Mitchellville, Iowa: Jacob Skarin, first-year men, second, and lower college musical theatre, semifinalist, William Shomos.

Olathe, Kan.: Patrick O'Halloran, graduate men, first, Kevin Hanrahan.

San Antonio, Texas: Adria Caffaro, junior women, first, Kevin Hanrahan.

Stoughton, Wis.: Jeni Houser, graduate women, first, Kate Butler.

Tucson, Ariz.: Jaimie Pruden, first-year women, semifinalist, Alisa Belflower.

Urbandale, Iowa: Amanda Burke, first-year women, semifinalist, Donna Harler-Smith; Bryan McKnight, senior men, semifinalist, Alisa Belflower.