NATS preview a success
By Nathan Taylor
This year a new voice lessons teacher, Jessica Saunders, had the opportunity to work with some of her students, and prepare them for the upcoming National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition, which will take place from Nov. 12-14 in Bourbannais, Illinois.
The students who are preparing for the contest gave a concert provided a sneak peek for local community members. The students involved offered a wide variety of musical talents and included at least one senior, junior, sophomore and freshman.
Anna Johanns was the first performer and she sang “In uomini, in soldati” by Mozart, and “Si mes vers avaient des ailes” by Reynaldo Hahn.
Haley Rubin then performed two of her four pieces, “Mein, Herr Marquis” by Johann Strauss Jr., and “Notre Amour” by Gabriel Fauré.
Sarah Vlodek followed with two of her four pieces, “Mi trade quell ‘alma ingrate” by Mozart, and “Morgen” by Richard Strauss.
Samuel Morrison followed Vlodek with “Je me suis embarqué” by Fauré and “The Roadside Fire by Ralph V. Williams.
Then, Jacquelyn Imsande performed “A simple sailor, lowly born” by Arthur Sullivan and “The Lass with the Delicate Air” by Michael Arne.
After Imsande, Jennifer Martin took the stage with “So in Love” by Cole Porter and “Astonishing” by Jason Howland.
Vlodek then performed her last two pieces which were “What Good Would the Moon Be” by Kurt Weill and “Safter” by Michael Weiner.
Rubin ended the concert on a beautiful note with “And this is my beloved” by George Forrest and “Italian Street Song” by Victor Herbert.
There were three pianists accompanying the singing, which included Melissa Phillips, who accompanied Johanns, Rubin, Morrison and Martin, Dr. Kristen Taylor who accompanied Vlodek and Dr. Bryan Stanley who accompanied Imsande.
The crowd seemed very pleased with the performance. Many where glad that they went even though they weren’t planning to before being told that they should.