The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Glenn Korff School of Music had six national semifinalists in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) “National NATS Student Auditions" this summer at UNC-Greensboro in early July.
The students included: Jeremy Brown (student of Alisa Belflower), Angela Gilbert (student of Alisa Belflower), Kathleen Johnson (student of Kate Butler), Nicholas Prior (student of Alisa Belflower), Thomas Stoysich (student of Jamie Reimer) and Ryan White (student of Bill Shomos).
Of these, Kathleen Johnson became a National Finalist, eventually placing third in the country in Category VIII (Lower College/Private Women). Johnson was born and raised in Omaha and grew up singing.
“My father and I used to sing together while he played guitar at weekend church services, weddings, and family gatherings,” Johnson said. She attended Marian High School, and during her high school years was involved in choirs, plays, and musicals. Her junior year, she was awarded Best Actress in a Musical by the Omaha Entertainment Awards and Best Youth Actress Award by the Nebraska Theater Arts Guild, and in her senior year she placed first in the NATS West Central Region High School Division.
“When it came time to apply to colleges, I decided to pursue classical vocal training. I was accepted into the Manhattan School of Music and was a finalist at the Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School, but ultimately elected to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln,” Johnson said. “I am so happy with my decision to study at UNL and major in vocal performance. At UNL, I study intensely and joyously with the fabulous Professor Kate Butler.”
Johnson is a member of the Honors Program and works as a Resident Assistant through University Housing. Her first two years at UNL she’s been involved in the UNL opera program as a soprano section leader in Amahl and the Night Visitors, singing in the Opera Scenes program, and performing in two UNL Friends of Opera Galas.
As an incoming freshman, she was awarded a UNL Friends of Opera Scholarship among other scholarships. Her freshman year she won first place at State NATS Auditions (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and second place at the NATS West Central Regional Auditions. That same year, NATS held the first-ever National Student Auditions. To be eligible, a student must place in the top three of their category at their NATS Regional Audition and then pass through a YouTube video screening. After that process fourteen singers per category are invited to compete at the National Semi-Final round. The category she was in encompassed freshman and sophomore women from the whole country.
“It was an honor singing as a semifinalist in National NATS held in Boston that summer.
This summer, at the end of my sophomore year, I was again invited to participate in NATS National Student Auditions, having placed first at Regional NATS and passing the YouTube round. I was delighted to be awarded third in the nation.”
Prior to singing at National NATS in North Carolina this summer, Johnson had been studying abroad in the UNL Language and Theater Program to work on her German language skills for seven weeks.
“I had an eight-day turn around time between Germany and National NATS, during which I almost exclusively slept (to overcome jet lag), sang, and mentally focused,” Johnson said. “I took voice lessons and a few musical coachings to help get me back in shape and feeling good. I’m so grateful for those. I always left beaming, reminded that I’m about the music and collaboration. What joy! In hindsight, that final preparation period feels like a bit of a blur.
“Going into nationals, I felt excited and nervous. It was a great exercise in trust -- trusting my technique, my long-term work and preparation, my voice and artistry. I’m proud to say that I succeeded in trusting, and, in effect, I had a blast singing for both the semifinal and final rounds. It was a pleasure to collaborate with pianist Kurt Knecht, who Dr. John Richmond generously had accompany the UNL singers. In the semifinal round, I sang “Sweeter than roses” by Henry Purcell, “Deh, vieni, non tardar” from Le Nozze di Figaro by W. A. Mozart, and “Die Männer sind mechant” by Franz Schubert. For the final round, I performed “Sweeter than roses,” which vividly describes an extraordinary kiss.”
In regards to the results, Johnson added that it’s really about the music for her.
“…what happens in the practice room, the lessons, and onstage. I went into the competition with the goal of honoring the music by trusting and swan diving into artistry, and I feel that I did that. I left very happy and full of gratitude.”
This year marks her third year working on her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with a minor in German.
“I’m so excited to make my solo opera debut singing the role of Zerlina in the UNL Opera production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni this fall. I’m also looking forward to going back for another couple of rounds of NATS auditions, singing in the Friends of Opera Gala, and singing a junior recital this spring.”