Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University junior Will Stotts from Jonesboro, Ark., was named first place winner of the 18th annual Mary Shambarger Competition for Singers, hosted by Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Fine Arts on Feb. 23.

Stotts, a musical theatre major, won first place and a $500 cash prize with his performance of “It Don't Get Better Than This" by Jeff Blumenkrantz and Jason Robert Brown from the musical Urban Cowboy. Stotts is a voice student of Dr. Jon Secrest, professor of music, and his collaborative pianist was Phyllis Walker, OBU staff accompanist.

“I was very surprised/excited when they announced my name. I had so many incredibly talented friends that performed that day as well!” Stotts said. “Performing is what I love to do the most.”

Second place winner Hannah Hines, a junior musical theatre and mass communications double major from Russellville, Ark., won a $300 cash prize with her performance of "Joey Is a Punk Rocker" by Joe Iconis from the musical The Black Suits. Hines is a voice student of Dr. Maggie Garrett, associate professor of music; Walker also was her collaborative pianist.

“Being on stage was really fun! ‘Joey’ is a really funny song, and this was my first time to get an audience's reaction, so it was really great to be able to feed off of their energy,” Hines noted. “My biggest take-away from this will be confidence in my performance. I get really nervous whenever I sing, but hopefully this will instill in me some sense that the audience wants me to succeed and wants to enjoy the song with me.”

Garrett Sayers, a senior musical theatre major from Greenwood, Ark., earned third place and a cash prize of $200. He performed “She Loves Me” by Jerry Bock from She Loves Me. He is a voice student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, professor of music, and also performed with Walker as collaborative pianist.

Esther Atkinson, a sophomore musical theatre major from Rogers, Ark., earned fourth place and a cash prize of $100. She performed “I Don’t Know What I’d Do” by Steven Lutvak from A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. She is a voice student of David Stanley, instructor of music, and performed with collaborative pianist Kristen La Madrid, OBU staff accompanist.

Lauren Hutcheson, a junior musical theatre major from Bossier City, La., earned honorable mention and a cash prize of $50. She performed “My New Philosophy” by Andrew Lippa from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. She is a voice student of David Stanley, who also served as her collaborative pianist for the competition.

The Shambarger Competition was established in 1999 to honor Mary Shambarger, professor emerita of music. Shambarger served on Ouachita’s music faculty for 32 years, and at the time of her retirement in 1998 served as Lena Goodwin Trimble Professor of Music.

Ouachita voice principals in their fourth semester of study or beyond are eligible to enter; 26 students competed this year. They performed selections in the designated genre, music theatre, for a panel of esteemed voice and drama experts. In addition to Shambarger, this year’s judging panel included OBU Interim President Dr. Charles Wright, former dean of the School of Fine Arts; and Robert Hupp, producing artistic director of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.

For more information, contact Dr. Jon Secrest at [email protected] or (870) 245-5134.

 

By Meaghan Pollizi // Photo above: Mrs. Mary Shambarger, third from left, congratulates this year's winners of Ouachita's Shambarger Competition for Singers. Winners include (from left): Lauren Hutcheson, honorable mention; Esther Atkinson, fourth place; Garrett Sayers, third place; Hannah Hines, second place; and Will Stotts, first place. OBU Photo by Andy Henderson.