OSU Students Place at Oklahoma NATS Conference

Thursday, April 14, 2016

April Golliver-Mohluddin, OSU associate professor of music

Several Oklahoma State University students placed at the Oklahoma National Association of Teachers of Singing Conference April 8-9 at Southern Nazarene University.

Founded in 1944, NATS is the world’s largest professional association of teachers of singing with more than 7,000 members in the U.S., Canada, and nearly 30 other countries. According to NATS, the mission of the organization is “to encourage the highest standards of vocal art and of the ethical principles of the teaching of singing; and to promote vocal education and research at all levels, both for the enrichment of the general public and for the professional advancement of the talented.”

"I'm so proud of the recent success of our OSU students at the Oklahoma NATS Conference,” said April Golliver-Mohluddin, OSU associate professor of music. “This annual conference hosts competitors from TU, OU, OCU, UCO, TCC, SNU, and several other collegiate programs. It's so rewarding as a teacher to see such outstanding achievement from our OSU students!"

Participants were required to perform a repertoire of four contrasting selections, including one aria, one art song in English, one art song in a foreign language, and an additional selection. All participants were scored on tone, breathing/alignment, language/diction, musicianship, artistry/expression, and ensemble.

OSU student results at the 2016 Oklahoma NATS Conference:

Musical Theater Competition (Division VI Lower College Music Theater Men):

1st place: Parker Fain, business management major from Edmond, Okla.
2nd place: Trent Tabor, music education major from Jenks, Okla.
3rd place: Dustin Boatright, music education major from Edmond, Okla.

Semi-Finalist in the Classical Competition:

Bryan Casey, vocal performance major from Prague, Okla.
Shelby Stroud, music education major from Norman, Okla.
Erin Shafranek, vocal performance major from Irving, Texas
Tylar Gregg, music education major from Norman, Okla.
Malia Sherwood, music education major from Owasso, Okla.
Max Vowel II, music education major from Guthrie, Okla.
Xavier Bernazard, music business major from Caguas, Puerto Rico
Dylan Aaron, music education major from Meza, Ariz.
Kristen Valenski, English major from Dallas, Texas
Felisha Trundle, vocal performance major from Owasso, Okla.
Scarlett Cox, Spanish major from Stillwater, Okla.
Skylar Donoho, music business major from Yukon, Okla.

Winners in the Classical Competition:

3rd place in Division VII A First Year College Women: Tylar Gregg, music education major from Norman, Okla.
1st place in Division VIII A First Year College Men: Dylan Aaron, music education major from Meza, Ariz.
2nd place in Division VIII A First Year College Men: Skylar Donoho, music business major from Yukon, Okla.
3rd place in Division XI A Third Year College Women: Erin Shafranek, vocal performance major from Irving, Texas
2nd place in Division XII A Third Year College Men: Bryan Casey, music performance major from Prague, Okla.

PHOTO: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ostatenews/albums/72157667075701556