NATS Competition Audition

Students that competed in the NATS Musical Theater Division:

From left to right. Top row: Josiah Mullins. 2nd Row:

James Zeller, Josh Whisler. 3rd Row: Caroline Jackson, 

Haly Johnson, Madeline Clem. 4th Row: Sierra Johnson,

 Madeline Cherrito.

On Saturday, October 31, a large group of Applied Voice students from College of the Ozarks participated in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Student Auditions for the Ozark region at MSU. According to the NATS website, “NATS is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world,” and their mission is “To encourage the highest standards of the vocal art and of ethical principles in the teaching of singing; and to promote vocal education and research at all levels, both for the enrichment of the general public and for the professional advancement of the talented.” Student Auditions is one of NATS’s most widely recognized events. At the auditions, students sing multiple pieces they have prepared for a panel of teachers who provide comments and score the students. The scores are compared to determine first, second, and third place winners in various divisions. The winners receive cash prizes, and the first place winners perform in a winners’ recital at the end of the day. This year, College of the Ozarks had more participation in the auditions than ever before. Eight students sang for the Music Theater auditions in the morning and six students sang for the Classical auditions in the afternoon. Students represented the voice studios of Ms. Jennifer Wolcott, Mrs. Kristin Cartwright, Mr. Gregg Busch, and Dr. John Cornish. Cartwright, Busch, and Cornish participated in logistical roles and as judges at the auditions. Three C of O students placed in the competition. Jordan Hake, a sophomore music major, placed third in the Lower College Men division of the Classical auditions. Madeline Cherrito, a senior musical theater and studio art major, placed third in the Upper College Music Theater Men and Women division. Josh Whisler, a senior musical theater major, became the first student to ever place first in the Upper College divisions for both the Classical and Music Theater auditions in the same day. At the conclusion of the day, Whisler performed “Her Face” from Carnival and “Warm as the Autumn Light” from The Ballad of Baby Doe in the winners’ recital. The students represented the College of the Ozarks Music Department excellently with their performances. The Department is very proud of these students’ accomplishments, and especially proud of Josh Whisler for his outstanding achievement.

Josh Whisler placed first in the Upper College divisions
for both the Classical and Music Theater.