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Eight ¾¨Ó㴫ý students competed and won places in their respective categories at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition March 29 at West Virginia University.

First prize winners are:

Karen Biddle, a music performance major, is a daughter of Richard and Cheryl Biddle of Silver Spring, Md., and a graduate of Montgomery Blair High School. She competed in the freshman women category.

Claudia Brown, a sacred music and music education major, is a daughter of Ronald Brown of Pittsburgh and Gaynelle Shepherd of Sierra Vista, Ariz. She is a graduate of North Hills High School. Brown competed in the sophomore women category.

Kimberly Hasara, a music performance major, is a daughter of James and Karen Hasara of Pittsburgh and a graduate of Avonworth High School. She competed in the junior women category.

David Timm, a music education major, is a son of Robert and Sheri Timm of St. Marys and a graduate of Saint Marys Area High School. He competed in the senior men category.

Taking second place in the junior women category was Stephanie Witzorreck, a music education major. She is a daughter of Arnold and Kathy Witzorreck of Jamestown and a graduate of Jamestown Area High School.

Third prize winners were Ashley Cesaratto, junior women, and William McCullough, senior men. Cesaratto, a music education major, is a daughter of Dale and Dawn Cesaratto of Pittsburgh and a graduate of Penn Hills High School. McCullough, a music performance major, is a son of William and Suzanne McCullough of DuBois and a graduate of DuBois Area High School.

Sonia Firster, a music education major, earned honorable mention in the junior women category. Firster, a daughter of Samuel and Kathleen Firster of Titusville, is a graduate of Maplewood High School.

The two-round competition included over 50 students from colleges in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. 

Dr. Anne Hagan Bentz, ¾¨Ó㴫ý associate professor of music and president-elect of Tri-State NATS, traveled with the students. "We were all so excited with the quality of the students' performances," she said. "For every one to return with recognition was a special thrill."

William Ambert, ¾¨Ó㴫ý adjunct music faculty and voice instructor, and Marie Libal-Smith, ¾¨Ó㴫ý adjunct music faculty and pianist, also accompanied the students to the competition.

Contact Bentz at (724) 946-6045 or e-mail bentzah@westminster.edu for additional information. 

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