Five students from the Lee
University School of Music recently placed as finalists in the NATS regional
auditions held in Bowling Green, Ky. NATS, the National Association of
Teachers of Singing, holds competitive regional vocal auditions every spring.

The NATS Mid-South Regional Auditions includes colleges and
universities in Kentucky and Tennessee. There are three levels of auditions:
preliminary auditions, semi-finals and finals.

Nine of Lee’s vocal
instructors took 38 Lee students to the auditions this year. Out of the 38
students, 21 made it through to the semi-finals and five made it to the finals
where they performed for the entire delegation.

First place winners
included Lamprini Lindeman for Advanced Women, Chelsea Davidson for Junior
Women and Kaylee Gallagher for Senior Women. Vera Voznyuk placed in second for
Advanced Women and Aaron Murphy won third for Senior Men.

The
vocalists are students of Virginia Horton, Tony Deaton and Dr. Andrea Dismukes
and were accompanied by pianists Mary Beth Wickes, Rachel Appleton, Perry
Mears and Ying Chuan Chang.

Lee NATS members include voice faculty
members Chery Brendel, Dr. Ron Brendel, Deaton, Dismukes, Dayne Frost, James
Frost, Horton, Debbie Sheeks and Dr. Loralee Songer.

“Lee
University has a great presence at these auditions,” said Dismukes, professor
of music and trip coordinator. “In every level of competition our students
present themselves so well, professionally and artistically. We are all so
grateful for the support we receive from the university to participate in this
life-changing event for our students.”

According to the NATS
website students must study with a current member of NATS and eligibility is
usually decided based on the amount of time the student has studied voice, or
by age. The competition provides an opportunity for vocal students to receive
feedback and make connections with other singers.

For more
information about NATS and the competitions visit www.NATS.org.

For more information contact the School of Music at (423) 614-8240.

PHOTO: Pictured are finalists (l to r) Lindeman, Voznyuk, Murphy, Davidson
and Gallagher; Also pictured are all 2013 NATS audition participants