ISU Singers Take First Place in Online Singing Competition

On Saturday, Nov. 7, ISU student singers competed with almost seventy other singers in Virtual Student Auditions hosted by the Inland Empire Chapter of NATS, the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Emma Dombroski and Miren Gabiola, both sopranos and students of Dr. Diana Livingston-Friedley, won first place in the Upper and Lower College Treble categories, respectively. Conner Randall, a tenor and student of Dr. Geoffrey Friedley, won first place in the Lower College category for Tenors, Baritones, and Basses (TBB). The following singers placed in the competition: Micah Kenney, soprano, 2nd Place, Upper College, Treble; Drew Perry, bass-baritone, 2nd Place, Lower College TBB; Autumn Sterner, soprano, 2nd Place, Adult; and Melissa Matthews, mezzo-soprano, 3rd Place, Adult. Sterner is a student of Livingston-Friedley, and Kenney, Perry, and Matthews are students of G. Friedley. Singers received written evaluations to assist them in growing as performers and musicians. Outstanding participants were selected to perform in the Finalists Honors Recital and will receive monetary awards.

The Inland Empire Chapter, which spans Eastern and Central Washington and Northern Idaho, invited the newly-formed SE Idaho Chapter to join their virtual auditions, which were already established when the new chapter was formed. The SE Idaho Chapter hopes to host Fall 2021 auditions at ISU and looks forward to welcoming singers and teachers from BYU-I and from schools and private studios in Ammon, Blackfoot, Burley, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Rupert, and Rexburg.

The auditions were hosted by Inland Empire NATS members Dr. Julie Anne Wieck and Dr. Aaron Agulay of Washington State University, Pullman. The mission of NATS is to advance excellence in singing through teaching, performance, scholarship, and research. The purpose of the NATS Student Auditions is to provide an opportunity for singers to perform before a panel of outstanding NATS adjudicators in a positive and constructive format. NATS offers its members opportunities for teacher development, and a supportive community for singers and teachers of singing. If you are interested in becoming a member of the NATS South East Idaho Chapter, please contact any one of the following members of the chapter’s governing body: Dr. Geoffrey Friedley, President/Treasurer (friegeof@isu.edu); Dr. David Olsen, Vice President (olsenda@byui.edu); Dr. Diana Livingston-Friedley, Secretary and Idaho District Governor (lividian@isu.edu).