Ouachita Stories

Thirteen Ouachita Baptist University students were named finalists at the 2017 Arkansas National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) auditions held at Harding University. Among the finalists, five Ouachita students earned first place awards.

“It’s exciting to have so many finalists. We are happy for our students,” said Dr. Jon Secrest, Ouachita’s Addie Mae Maddox Professor of Music and coordinator of vocal studies. “We would be happy for our students even if they weren’t a success in terms of winning awards because the bottom line is that preparing for NATS ­– or for any audition – brings out the very best in our students.”

More than 200 students from universities across Arkansas attended the conference and auditioned in classical or musical theatre divisions. Each participant prepared a list of three songs for the lower division and four songs for the upper division. The first two rounds took place only with judges in the room, and the final round was held in front of everyone attending the NATS conference.

"I am very humbled by the opportunity to be a finalist in two divisions, especially with it being my first year participating in the conference. I had an amazing experience interacting with fellow music students from all around Arkansas,” said Clay Mobley, a freshman from Wylie, Texas. Mobley earned first place in both the freshman men and lower music theatre men divisions.

“I was able to learn more about my techniques and reinforce those I had already applied to make myself a better musician,” he added. “Any opportunity to audition or compete is just one more performance I can give in front of an audience and have the ability to receive feedback, which is something I can take and use to better my abilities."

On Friday evening, the conference featured an all-members recital. Ouachita faculty members who participated included John Alec Briggs, Dr. Maggie Garrett, Suzetta Glenn, Dr. Glenda Secrest, Dr. Jon Secrest, David Stanley and Dr. Patricia Vigil. Dr. Corey Trahan, director of musical theatre at Northwestern Louisiana State University, taught the NATS master class where he worked with five students, including Ouachita student Michael Peré.

“In the master class, I performed a song I’m pretty comfortable and confident with,” Peré explained. “After I performed the song once, Corey Trahan got onstage, gave me some notes and worked on some parts in the song that would help me make it even better in the future. It was a wonderful experience to get feedback from someone who is currently performing in many different venues and styles.” Peré, a senior from Little Rock, also earned first place in the upper music theatre men division.

 

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

Arlington, Texas – Bonnie Gentry, a freshman musical theatre student of Dr. Jon Secrest, placed second in freshman women division and third place in lower music theatre women division.

Bella Vista, Ark. – Beth Crisler, a senior vocal performance student of John Alec Briggs, placed first in the senior women division.

Benton, Ark. – Emily Johnson, a sophomore musical theatre student of Dr. Patricia Vigil, placed second in the lower music theatre women division.

Evansville, Ind. – Lauren Terry, a junior musical theatre student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, placed first in the lower music theatre women division.

Garland, Texas – Elizabeth Schutter, a senior choral education student of John Alec Briggs, placed second in the senior women division.

Little Rock, Ark. – Michael Peré, a senior musical theatre student of Dr. Jon Secrest, placed first in the upper music theatre men division.

North Little Rock, Ark. – Dean Carmona, a freshman vocal performance student of Dr. Jon Secrest, placed third in the freshman men division.

Plano, Texas – Amy Lytle, a junior music student of Dr. Becky Morrison, placed third in the junior women division.

Rockwall, Texas – Micah Brooks, a sophomore musical theatre student of Dr. Jon Secrest, placed second in the sophomore men division and third in the lower music theatre men division. Jessie Brunson, a sophomore vocal performance student of Dr. Jon Secrest, placed first in the sophomore women division.

Russellville, Ark. – Scotty Scott, a junior musical theatre student of Dr. Jon Secrest, placed third in the sophomore men division and second in the lower music theatre men division.

Terrell, Texas – Anna Joie Valdez, a senior musical theatre student of John Alec Briggs, placed second in the upper music theatre women division.

Wylie, Texas – Clay Mobley, a freshman music business student of Dr. Jon Secrest, placed first in the freshman men division and first in the lower music theatre men division.

 

Ouachita students named NATS semifinalists, in order of hometown, include:

Alexander, Ark. – Hannah Hill, a freshman musical theatre student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre women division.

Bismarck, Ark. – Gideon Garcia, a senior choral education student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, was a semifinalist in the senior men division.

Bryant, Ark. – Mercedes Mata, a sophomore musical theatre student of Dr. Maggie Garrett, was a semifinalist for the lower music theatre women division. Sharayah Wallace, a freshman musical theatre student of John Alec Briggs, was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre women division.

Clarksville, Ark. – Emma Pitts, a freshman musical theatre student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semifinalist in the freshman women division and the lower music theatre women division.

Grapevine, Texas – Joy Biebighauser, a sophomore worship arts student of David Stanley, was a semifinalist in the sophomore women division.

Lewisville, Texas – Philip Robinson, a sophomore musical theatre student of Dr. Maggie Garrett, was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre men division.

Longview, Texas – Rachel Webber, a sophomore musical theatre student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semifinalist in the sophomore women division and the lower music theatre women division.

North Little Rock, Ark. – Evan Dowers, a freshman choral education student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semifinalist in the freshman men division and the lower music theatre men division. Mackenzie Holtzclaw, a junior musical theatre student of Dr. Maggie Garrett, was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre women division.

Pittsburg, Texas – Lizzy Griffin, a junior musical theatre student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre women division.

Rockwall, Texas – Kenzie Osborn, a sophomore musical theatre student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre women division.

Rogers, Ark. – Cedar Valdez, a freshman music theatre student of Dr. Maggie Garrett, was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre men division.

Walnut Ridge, Ark. – Dylan Blackwood, a sophomore musical theatre student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre men division.

White Oak, Texas – Paige Bagley, a freshman choral education student of Dr. Maggie Garrett, was a semifinalist in the freshman women division.

 

By Sarah Davis

March 9, 2017