Seven Students Named NATS Finalists

A record seven first place awards were presented to Ouachita Baptist University students at the recent National Association of Teachers of Singing’s Arkansas chapter conference and student auditions. The event was hosted by Ouachita Feb. 22-23 in Mabee Fine Arts Center and was a record-breaking year in many respects.

“I was so proud of my colleagues on the voice faculty, of our fantastic staff accompanists, of our student workforce that volunteered in various capacities and our campus-wide offices that assisted in successfully seeing to each and every one of these details,” said Dr. Jon Secrest, professor of music. “It was as close to being perfect as possible.”

Of the 30 finalist positions for college undergraduates, Ouachita students occupied 16. A record 334 students from colleges and universities across the state of Arkansas entered the competition, representing a record 45 teachers. Ouachita students competed in a total of 111 auditions in the competition – another record.

“This kind of showing creates momentum for our vocal studies program and is excellent public relations for the OBU Division of Music,” Secrest said.

The following students were named NATS finalists, in order of hometown:

• Arkadelphia, Ark. – Caitlin Secrest, a junior vocal performance student of Dr. Glenda Secrest and Dr. Jon Secrest, earned first place in the junior women division and fourth place in the upper music theatre division.
• Colorado Springs, Colo. – Bethany Swiontek, a senior musical theatre student of Dr. Maggie Garrett, earned first place in the senior women division and second place in the upper music theatre division.
• Crossett, Ark. – Seth Russell, a freshman vocal performance student of Dr. Jon Secrest, earned second place in the freshman men division.
• Elkland, Mo. – Joshua Wayne, a sophomore choral music education student of Dr. Jon Secrest, earned first place in the sophomore men division and third place in the lower music theatre division.
• Garland, Texas – Meredith Martin, a junior choral music education student of Dr. Maggie Garrett, earned second place in the junior women division and was a semifinalist in the upper music theatre division.
• Glen Carbon, Ill. – Joel Rogier, a junior vocal performance student of Dr. Jon Secrest, earned first place in the junior men division and was a semifinalist in the upper music theatre division.
• Grand Prairie, Texas – Todd McNeel, a sophomore music student of David Stanley, earned second place in the sophomore men division and was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre division.
• Henderson, Texas – Molly Salmon, a sophomore music student of David Stanley, earned first place in the sophomore women division and was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre division.
• Maumelle, Ark. – Hailey Weiner, a freshman musical theatre student of Suzetta Glenn, earned second place in the lower music theatre division.
• Saginaw, Mich. – Hannah Garner, a senior vocal performance student of Dr. Jon Secrest, earned first place in the upper music theatre division and was a semifinalist in the senior women division.
• Tyler, Texas – Rachel Williams, a freshman vocal performance major student of Dr. Jon Secrest, earned second place in the freshman women division.
• Van Buren, Ark. – Chad Burris, a sophomore musical theatre student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, earned first place in the lower music theatre division and was a semifinalist in the sophomore men division.
• White Hall, Ark. – Bethany Gere, a sophomore musical theatre student of Dr. Maggie Garrett, earned second place in the sophomore women division and was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre division.

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

• Alexander, Ark. – Jake Briggs, a freshman music student of Tom Bolton, was a semifinalist in the freshman men division. Elizabeth Wheeler, a sophomore psychology student of John Briggs, was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre division.
• Arkadelphia, Ark. – Alexis Nichols, a senior musical theatre student of Suzetta Glenn, was a semifinalist in the upper music theatre division.
• Bonnerdale, Ark. – Victoria Clark, a freshman choral music education student of Robin Williams, was a semifinalist in the freshman women division and the lower music theatre division.
• Branson, Mo. – Esther Weicht, a freshman vocal performance student of Suzetta Glenn, was a semifinalist in the freshman women division.
• Burleson, Texas – Kayla Esmond, a junior musical theatre student of Robin Williams, was a semifinalist in the upper music theatre division.
• Carrollton, Texas – Christina Moon, a sophomore church music student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semifinalist in the sophomore women division.
• Cleburne, Texas – Garrett Whitehead, a junior musical theatre student of David Stanley, was a semifinalist in the upper music theatre division.
• Coldwater, Miss. – Lauren Linton, a junior musical theatre student of David Stanley, was a semifinalist in the upper music theatre division.
• Colorado Springs, Colo. – Erin Cheshire, a freshman choral music education student of Robin Williams, was a semifinalist in the freshman women division.
• DeSoto, Texas – Gemma Guiomard, a junior musical theatre student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semifinalist in the junior women division and the upper music theatre division. 
• Flower Mound, Texas – Cami Willis, a sophomore musical theatre student of Robin Williams, was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre division.
• Fort Smith, Ark. – Blakeley Knox, a sophomore music student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre division.
• Fort Worth, Texas – Jillian Turner, a sophomore vocal performance student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, was a semifinalist in the sophomore women division.
• Garland, Texas – Emma Patterson, a junior choral music education student of Suzetta Glenn, was a semifinalist in the junior women division. DeCarl Jones, a junior musical theatre student of David Stanley, was a semifinalist in the upper music theatre division.
• Grapevine, Ark. – Shay Michael, a senior musical theatre student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semifinalist in the upper music theatre division.
• Hot Springs, Ark. – Breanna Bullington, a senior church music student of Suzetta Glenn, was a semifinalist in the senior women division. Morgan Chunn, a sophomore choral education student of Suzetta Glenn, was a semifinalist in the sophomore women division. Connor Goad, a sophomore music student of Robin Williams, was a semifinalist in the sophomore men division and the lower music theatre division. Kassie Johnsen, a junior music theory and composition student of Dr. Maggie Garrett, was a semifinalist in the upper music theatre division.
• Justin, Texas – Ashley Bundy, a junior vocal performance student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semifinalist in the upper music theatre division.
• Katy, Texas – Betsy Wilson, a senior musical theatre student of Suzetta Glenn, was a semifinalist in the senior women division and the upper music theatre division.
• Lewisville, Texas –Hannah Bowen, a sophomore choral music education student of Robin Williams, was a semifinalist in the sophomore women division.
• Little Rock, Ark. – Jalin Wesley, a sophomore musical theatre student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semifinalist in the sophomore men division. Natalie Williams, a freshman music theory and composition student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, was a semifinalist in the freshman women division and the lower music theatre division.
• Manassas, Va. – Rebecca Johnson, a sophomore music student of John Briggs, was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre division.
• North Little Rock, Ark. – Mattie Bogoslavsky, a freshman musical theatre student of John Briggs, was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre division.
• Pine Bluff, Ark. – Jacob Sturgeon, a senior musical theatre student of David Stanley, was a semifinalist in the upper music theatre division.
• Plano, Texas – MaryLacey Thomson, a senior musical theatre student of David Stanley, was a semifinalist in the upper music theatre division. 
• Roanoke, Texas – Bekah Anthony, a senior vocal performance student of Suzetta Glenn, was a semifinalist in the senior women division and the upper music theatre division.
• Rodgers, Ark. – John Doss, a sophomore music theory and composition student of David Stanley, was a semifinalist in the sophomore men division.
• Royal, Ark. – Tim Cooper, a freshman worship arts student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, was a semifinalist in the freshman men division and the lower music theatre division.
• Russellville, Ark. – Mollie Taylor, a freshman choral music education student of Suzetta Glenn, was a semifinalist in the freshman women division. Tyler Wisdom, a sophomore musical theatre student of David Stanley, was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre division.
• Sanger, Texas – Alyssa Reynolds, a senior music student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, was a semifinalist in the upper music theatre division.
• Sherwood, Ark. – Victoria Mantooth, a junior vocal performance student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, was a semifinalist in the junior women division.
• Shreveport, La. – Alison Johnson, a senior musical theatre student of Robin Williams, was a semifinalist in the upper music theatre division.
• Springdale, Ark. – Lola McClendon, a senior musical theatre student of David Stanley, was a semifinalist in the upper music theatre division.
• Texarkana, Texas – Tara Clem, a freshman musical theatre student of Dr. Jon Secrest, was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre division.
• Van Buren, Ark. – Jessica Smith, a sophomore musical theatre student of Robin Williams, was a semifinalist in the lower music theatre division.

Ouachita students were accompanied by the following OBU staff accompanists: Glenda Aldridge, John Briggs, Terri Lucas, Louis Menedez, Susan Monroe, Jillian Turner and Phyllis Walker.

The OBU voice faculty who worked with Ouachita students to prepare for this conference include: Dr. Tom Bolton, adjunct professor of music; John Briggs, adjunct professor of music; Dr. Maggie Garrett, assistant professor of music; Suzetta Glenn, lecturer of music; Dr. Glenda Secrest, professor of music; Dr. Jon Secrest, professor of music; David Stanley, instructor of music; and Robin Williams, vocal music lecturer.