Ouachita Stories

Eleven Ouachita Baptist University students were recently named finalists in the annual Arkansas Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) auditions held at Henderson State University.

“As much of an honor as it is to progress to the finals, NATS is really so much more for the growth in the performer and as a learning experience,” said Elisabeth Hipp, a junior vocal performance major from Memphis, Tenn. “A really helpful aspect of this audition process is that after the preliminary round, every participant receives a sheet of comments from each of their judges. Receiving feedback from someone other than your own voice instructor is often a wonderful resource to me as a performer."

Of the 35 finalist positions available in the competition, 11 Ouachita students claimed 14 of those spots. Three of Ouachita’s eleven finalists were named finalists in two categories each while four others were also named semi-finalists in various categories. A total of 15 other Ouachita students were also named semi-finalists, including four who were named semi-finalists in two categories each.

This program is set up to be a growing experience for all the students involved. “It teaches you to rise to the occasion, push away the stage fright and give your best,” said Doug Brady, a junior musical theatre major from Saginaw, Texas.

Students, instructors and accompanists from at least a dozen other schools throughout Arkansas joined Ouachita’s 36 voice principals, instructors and accompanists.

The participants also heard a recital from renowned tenor Stanford Olsen, who has performed around the world and with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Olsen also led a master class and coached five students, one of whom was OBU’s Leslyn Ichter, a senior choral music education major from Conway, Ark.

“NATS is the accumulation of months of work. Besides the one-hour lesson that I spend with my vocal coach, I have to practice about an hour to an hour and a half every day,” said Rachel Harris, a sophomore musical theatre major from Springdale, Ark. “It is not just about practicing until you can get the song right; it is about practicing until you can't get the song wrong. But even then there is always room for improvement.”

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



Arkadelphia, Ark.—Caitlin Secrest, an Arkadelphia High School student of Glenda and Jon Secrest, earned first place in the high school women division and second place in the high school musical theatre division.

Arlington, Texas—Xavier Lagunas, a sophomore musical theatre student of Glenda Secrest, earned first place in the sophomore men division and second place in the lower musical theatre division.

Dalworthington Gardens, Texas—Andrew Miller, a senior vocal performance student of Jon Secrest, earned first place in the senior men division and third place in the upper musical theatre division.

Forney, Texas—Hannah Chapman, a senior vocal performance student of Glenda Secrest, earned second place in the senior women division. Samantha Parrish, a senior musical theatre student of Jon Secrest, earned third place in the senior women division and was a semi-finalist in the upper musical theatre division.

Memphis, Tenn.—Elisabeth Hipp, a junior vocal performance student of Glenda Secrest, earned first place in the junior women division.

Overland Park, Kan.—James Wood, a freshman church music student of Glenda Secrest, earned third place in the freshman men division.

Saginaw, Texas—Doug Brady, a junior musical theatre student of Glenda Secrest, earned second place in the upper music theater division.

Springdale, Ark—Rachel Harris, a sophomore musical theatre student of Margaret Garrett, earned second place in the sophomore women division and was a semi-finalist in the lower music theater division.

Tyler, Texas—Grace Johnson, a junior vocal performance student of Jon Secrest, earned third place in the lower musical theater division and was a semi-finalist in the sophomore women division.

Wynne, Ark.—Jacob Watson, a junior musical theatre student of Jon Secrest, earned second place in the junior men division and was a semi-finalist in the upper musical theater division.

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

Colorado Springs, Colo.—Bethany Swiontek, a freshman musical theatre student of Margaret Garrett, was a semi-finalist in the freshman women and the lower musical theatre divisions.

Conway, Ark.—Christian Ichter, a freshman music student of Glenda Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the freshman men division. Leslyn Ichter, a senior choral music education student of Glenda Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the upper musical theatre and senior women division.

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

Grapevine, Texas—Shay Michael, a freshman musical theatre student of Jon Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the lower musical theatre division. Kyle Huey, a senior musical theatre student of Jon Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the upper musical theatre division.

Litchfield, Ill.—Rachel Shrader, a freshman music education student of Margaret Garrett, was a semi-finalist in the freshman women division.

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

Malvern, Ark.—Alyssa Thomas, a freshman musical theatre student of Glenda Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the lower music theatre division. Robert Hill, a sophomore music student of Jon Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the sophomore men division.

Mason, Tenn.—Kinsey Ann Carpenter, a sophomore music education student of Cindy Fuller, was a semi-finalist in the lower music theatre division.

Racine, Wis.—Amanda Murray, a freshman musical theatre student of Margaret Garrett, was a semi-finalist in the lower music theatre division.

Roanoke, Texas—Bekah Anthony, a freshman church music student of Suzetta Glenn, was a semi-finalist in the freshman women division.

Saginaw, Mich.—Hannah Garner, a freshman vocal performance student of Jon Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the freshman women and the lower music theatre divisions.

Sanger, Texas—Alyssa Reynolds, a freshman vocal performance student of Glenda Secrest, was a semi-finalist in the freshman women division.

The students were accompanied by Susan Monroe, Linda Thompson and Phyllis Walker. For more information, contact Dr. Jon Secrest at [email protected] or (870) 245-5134.

By Meg Gosser