HSU Students Perform at Texoma Regional Conference

Ten HSU students participated in the Texoma Regional Conference of the National Association of Teachers of Singing November 3-5 at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

Eight of the ten students were named semi-finalists: Megan Dobbs, Josh Westman, Sionana Williams, Emilee Frost, Serayah Peters, Alyssa Anderson, Jacqueline Wood, and Aaron Dominguez.

Two of the ten students were finalists in their divisions: Josh Westman and Aaron Dominguez. Westman received 3^rd place in Junior men, and Dominguez received 5^th in Freshman men.

In the fall semester, voice teachers in the school of music select students to participate in the conference. This year 437 students, 108 teachers, and 72 pianists were in attendance at the conference. 

Lynnette Chambers, professor of voice, explained the conference, “In addition to the student auditions, where each student competing gets helpful feedback from a panel of judges, there are masterclasses to observe, recitals to attend, and informational sessions. All of these help promote the mission statement of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.”

The Texoma Region of the National Association of Teachers, Inc. (NATS) of Singing is the fifth largest region in the country by membership. Texoma’s geographic territory includes the states of Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. 

It has five districts: North Texas, Oklahoma, Rio Grande, West Texas, and South Texas. There are seven chapters within those five districts: Dallas/Ft. Worth, East Texas, Great Plains, Panhandle, Rio Grande, Greater Houston, and South Texas. 

Melody Rich, associate professor of voice, said, “The NATS auditions provide another opportunity for students to experience the preparatory process both mentally and physically for an audition. The students benefit from the many classes, workshops and concerts. There is a total immersion into their specialized field, a chance to experience music as a pre-professional.”

The National Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc. was founded in 1944 and is now the largest association of teachers of singing in the world. NATS has around 6,500 members in the United States, Canada, and over twenty-five other countries.