Posted on Monday, March 31, 2008
Eight Westminster College 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, Westminster College 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, Westminster College adjunct music faculty and voice instructor, and Marie Libal-Smith, Westminster College 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.
