March 30, 2007

Troy University Students receive NATS honors

TROY—Four Troy University students received honors at the state National Association of Teachers of Singing, NATS, adjudications in Birmingham on Saturday, March 10. 

“We are pleased to announce Troy student successes this weekend at the state National Association,” Michael Hix, School of Music professor.  “These singers worked diligently over the last two months to prepare for this weekend and represented Troy admirably. All benefited from hearing their peers and more experienced colleagues from other schools and from having their efforts evaluated by voice teachers and professional singers.”

More than 315 singers from schools throughout Alabama gathered at Birmingham-Southern College to have their singing and performing skills evaluated by NATS judges.

The following Troy students were selected as winners in their respective categories and were chosen to perform at the final concerts on March 23 and March 24, and are eligible to participate in the upcoming regional NATS auditions at Florida State University this spring:

• Erica Hansen, 1st place, lower level music theater women.  Hansen, a freshman communication arts – dramatic track major from Huntsville, is a student of Dr. Meg Jackson.
• Adrian Smith, 2nd place, first year college men.  Smith, a student of Catherine Allard, is working with Dr. Michael Hix this term while Dr. Allard is on sabbatical.  He is a sophomore bachelor of music education major from Montgomery.

 The following two students were chosen as semi-finalists in their respective categories:

• Erica Jones, semi-finalist, 1st year college women. Jones is a junior broadcast journalism and public relations major from Heflin.
• Bryant Stokes, a freshman communication arts – dramatic track major from Goshen, was also semi-finalist, lower level music theater men.

Also taking part in NATS auditions were TROY students: Wesley Jackson, Adrian Smith, Chase Bonds, Kristin Trumbull, Michelle Smiley, Brett Warnke, Ethan Harrison, Jeff Watson, Jake Askey, Stephanie Frakes, Megan Murphy

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