Ouachita Stories

Ten Ouachita Baptist University students were named finalists at the Southern Region National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) conference and auditions, held Nov. 6-8 at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La.

In addition to the 10 finalists, 29 Ouachita students were named semi-finalists in the NATS auditions.  Ninety-four singing teachers and 480 student singers participated in the auditions.

Dr. Glenda Secrest, OBU associate professor of music, and Dr. Jon Secrest, OBU professor of music, were selected by a screening committee of their peers to perform as part of the NATS Member’s Recital held on Thursday, Nov. 6. They were accompanied by Cindy Fuller, OBU lecturer in music. Dr. Jon Secrest also presented a master class in music theatre performance techniques in which he coached four singers in presentations of music theatre literature and answered questions from the audience and participants.

The following Ouachita students were NATS finalists, in order of hometown:

Arkadelphia, Ark.—Caitlin Secrest, a junior at Arkadelphia High School and student of Drs. Glenda and Jon Secrest, earned second place in the high school women division and was a semi-finalist in the high school musical theatre division.

Arlington, Texas—Xavier Lagunas, a freshman choral music education student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, earned first place in the freshman men division and was a semi-finalist in the lower musical theatre division.

Conway, Ark.—Leslyn Ichter, a sophomore choral music education student of Suzetta Glenn, earned third place in the sophomore women division and was a semi-finalist in the lower musical theatre division.

Grapevine, Texas—Kyle Huey, a junior musical theatre student of Dr. Jon Secrest, earned second place in the upper musical theatre division and was a semi-finalist in the senior men division.

Little Rock, Ark.—Chris Straw, a senior musical theatre student of Dr. Jon Secrest, earned fourth place in the senior men division and was a semi-finalist in the upper musical theatre division.

Malvern, Ark.—Robert Hill, a freshman music student of Dr. Jon Secrest, earned third place in the freshman men division and was a semi-finalist in the lower musical theatre division.

Rockwall, Texas—Bryan Brooks, a freshman musical theatre student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, earned third place in the lower musical theatre division.

Saginaw, Texas—Doug Brady, a freshman musical theatre student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, earned first place in the lower student adult division and was a semi-finalist in the upper musical theatre division.

Springdale, Ark.—Rachel Harris, a freshman musical theatre student of Dr. Margaret Garrett, earned fourth place in the freshman women division and was a semi-finalist in the lower musical theatre division.

Wynne, Ark.—Jacob Watson, a sophomore musical theatre student of Dr. Jon Secrest, earned first place in the sophomore men division and was a semifinalist in the lower musical theatre division.

The following Ouachita students qualified as NATS semi-finalists, in order of hometown:

Cleburne, Texas—Chelsea Cunningham, a sophomore music student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the sophomore women division.

Colt, Ark.—Cori Kidder, a senior musical theatre student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the senior women and upper musical theatre divisions.

Dallas, Texas—Max Swarner, a freshman musical theatre student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the freshman men and lower musical theatre divisions.

Forney, Texas—Hannah Chapman, a junior vocal performance student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the junior women division.

Fort Worth, Texas—Katie Edenfield, a sophomore vocal performance student of Suzetta Glenn, was a semi-finalist in the sophomore women division.

Garland, Texas—Lauren Casteel, a sophomore musical theatre student of Dr. Margaret Garrett, was a semi-finalist in the sophomore women division.

Henderson, Texas—Sadie Hillis, a freshman vocal performance student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the freshman women division.

Jonesboro, Ark.—Haley Broadaway, a junior musical theatre student of Dr. Margaret Garrett, was a semi-finalist in the upper musical theatre division. Anna Ganong, a freshman choral music education student of Dr. Margaret Garrett, was a semi-finalist in the freshman women division.

Knoxville, Ark.—Carrie Brown, a junior piano performance student of Dr. Margaret Garrett, was a semi-finalist in the junior women division.

Little Rock, Ark.—Brooke Ault, a sophomore musical theatre student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the sophomore women and lower musical theatre divisions.

Mansfield, Texas— Stephanie Batsel, a freshman musical theatre student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the lower musical theatre division. Teresa Hargrove, a freshman musical theatre student of Suzetta Glenn, was a semi-finalist in the freshman women and lower musical theatre divisions.

Mason, Tenn.—Kinsey Ann Carpenter, a freshman choral music education student of Cindy Fuller, was a semi-finalist in the freshman women and lower musical theatre divisions.

Memphis, Tenn.—Elisabeth Hipp, a sophomore choral music education student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the sophomore women and lower musical theatre divisions.

North Little Rock, Ark.—Molly Jo Watts, a sophomore choral music education student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the sophomore women division.

Pine Bluff, Ark.—Emily Peek, a freshman choral music education student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the freshman women division.

Southhaven, Miss.—Ashley Wieronski, a freshman musical theatre student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the freshman women and lower musical theatre divisions.

Spotsylvania, Va.—Sean Wilson, a sophomore vocal performance student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the upper musical theatre division.

Tyler, Texas—Grace Johnson, a freshman vocal performance student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the freshman women division.

by OBU News Bureau