School of Music wins at regional NATS auditions

calendar icon12 Nov 2012    

The School of Music took home the most awards at the 2012 West Central National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Auditions held at the University the weekend of Nov. 2-3, including Singer of the Year honors for School of Music senior Kendall Reimer.

UNL voice students received 39 awards and 28 semi-finalist recognitions, more than any of the other 22 participating colleges and universities. The West Central Region of NATS includes Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming.

Reimer won Singer of the Year honors, while David Rubio received honorable mention for Singer of the Year.

"I was incredibly excited to receive this award. I have participated in both State and Regional NATS for the last four years, and it really was a great honor to receive," Reimer said. "I work very hard on all of my music and always enjoy having the opportunity to share it with others, even in a competition environment."

She credits her teacher, Associate Professor of Voice Kate Butler, with her success.

"Throughout my time at UNL, I have had the wonderful opportunity to study with a phenomenal teacher, Kate Butler, and I could not ask for a more profound mentor to lead me through this portion of my musical journey," Reimer said.

Butler said Reimer has a promising future.

“It has been my joy and pleasure to help guide and shape Kendall Reimer’s vocal development; to encourage her to express herself artistically, individually and honestly; and to share in her growth, discoveries and successes,” Butler said. “Kendall is a remarkable young woman. She has a gorgeous vocal gift, superb innate musical instincts and, onstage, possesses that special ‘lit-from-within’ quality one finds in true performers. I am so happy for her and look forward to her very promising future.”

Senior Lecture of Voice and Musical Theatre Alisa Belflower said UNL competes well at regional NATS.

"UNL's student vocalists in the School of Music contribute every year to enhancing our reputation for artistic excellence," said Belflower. "Despite increased competition from across the Midwest, UNL students won far more awards than in years past, winning first and/or second place in nearly every level of the auditions. Our students are wonderfully gifted young artists, who strive toward excellence."

There were 450 student entries representing 22 universities and colleges and 20 private voice studios participating in this year's auditions.

NATS was founded in 1944 and is now the largest association of teachers of singing in the world. NATS offers a variety of lifelong learning experiences to its members, including workshops, intern programs, master classes and conferences.

The winning UNL students included:

Name	Category+	Place*	Hometown
April Quinn	1st Year Women	2nd	Omaha, Neb.
Abbey Jo Klein	1st Year Women	5th	Adams, Neb.
Katelyn Geary	1st Year Women	SF	Lincoln, Neb.
Jeremy Brown	1st Year Men 1st Year & Sophomore Men in Musical Theatre	1st 3rd	Elwood, Neb.
Eric Martens	1st Year Men	2nd	Papillion, Neb.
David Ricart	1st Year Men	5th	Omaha, Neb.
Gretchen Pille	Sophomore Women	2nd (tied)	Papillion, Neb.
Anna Schoettger	Sophomore Women	2nd (tied)	Lincoln, Neb.
Rebecca Duncan	Sophomore Women 1st Year & Sophomore Women in Musical Theatre	3rd 3rd	Hickman, Neb.
Kourtlin Churchman	Sophomore Women 1st Year & Sophomore Women in Musical Theatre	SF 4th	Ankeny, Iowa
Angela Gilbert	Sophomore Women 1st Year & Sophomore Women in Musical Theatre	SF 1st	Omaha, Neb.
Christian Cardona	Sophomore Men 1st Year & Sophomore Men in Musical Theatre	SF 2nd	Papillion, Neb.
Braden Foreman	Sophomore Men	SF	Gering, Neb.
Ben Krantz	Sophomore Men	SF	Centennial, Colo.
Cody Meyer	Sophomore Men	SF	Carrollton, Mo.
Andrew Ritchie	Sophomore Men	SF	Omaha, Neb.
Jenny Smith	Junior Women	3rd	Eagle, Neb.
Chelsea McCaskill	Junior Women	4th	Omaha, Neb.
Alexandra Tiller	Junior Women	HM	Stilwell, Kan.
Emily Solo	Junior Women	SF	Clive, Iowa
Rachael Washington	Junior Women Junior & Senior Women In Musical Theatre	SF SF	Lincoln, Neb.
Nathaniel Sullivan	Junior Men Junior & Senior Men In Musical Theatre	2nd 5th	Bettendorf, Iowa
Wyn Wiley	Junior Men	SF	Lincoln, Neb.
Kendall Reimer	Senior Women	1st and Singer of the Year	Lincoln, Neb.
Sara Warner	Senior Women Junior & Senior Women In Musical Theatre	2nd 3rd	Papillion, Neb.
Kamerin Churchman	Senior Women Junior & Senior Women In Musical Theatre	3rd 2nd	Ankeny, Iowa
Marjorie Huntley	Senior Women Junior & Senior Women In Musical Theatre	SF SF	Omaha, Neb.
Hannah Kurth	Senior Women Junior & Senior Women In Musical Theatre	SF 5th	Bettendorf, Iowa
Elaina Matthews	Senior Women	SF	Pueblo West, Colo.
Jaimie Pruden	Senior Women Junior & Senior Women In Musical Theatre	SF HM	Tucson, Ariz.
Carey Brant	Senior Men Junior & Senior Men In Musical Theatre	SF SF	Lincoln, Neb.
Josh Huls	Senior Men	SF	Grand Island, Neb.
Brian Jeffers	Senior Men Junior & Senior Men In Musical Theatre	SF 3rd	Bellevue, Neb.
Timothy Madden	Senior Men Junior & Senior Men In Musical Theatre	SF SF	Lincoln, Neb.
David Rubio	Junior & Senior Men In Musical Theatre Senior Men	1st SF & Singer of the Year HM	Omaha, Neb.
Arica Coleman	Graduate Women	1st	Lincoln, Neb.
Deanna Davis	Graduate Women	3rd	Lincoln, Neb.
Jackie Josten	Graduate Women	4th	Point of Rocks, Md.
Lauren Hackenmiller	Graduate Women	SF	Boone, Iowa
Matthew Clegg	Graduate Men	1st	Lincoln, Neb.
Sam Hartley	Graduate Men	2nd	Lincoln, Neb.
Jared Hiscock	Graduate Men	3rd	Lincoln, Neb.
Karina Brazas	Non-Traditional Students	2nd	Omaha, Neb.
Anne Gray	Non-Traditional Students	5th	Lincoln, Neb.
Bret Olsen	Non-Traditional Students	HM	Lincoln, Neb.
Morgan Harris	1st Year & Sophomore Women in Musical Theatre	SF	Papillion, Neb.
Tyler Gruttemeyer	Junior & Senior Men In Musical Theatre	4th	Omaha, Neb.
Trent Buglewicz	Junior & Senior Men In Musical Theatre	SF	Papillion, Neb.

*SF=semi-finalist; HM=honorable mention