WestConn sweeps statewide competition
Voice students sing their way to the top
DANBURY, CONN. — Adding to the growing list of accomplishments by students enrolled the music program at Western Connecticut State University’s School of Visual and Performing Arts, several voice students had tremendous success recently at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) state competition.
In the College I Division, open to freshmen and sophomores, freshman Caitlin Keeler, of Ridgefield, and sophomore Karolina Wojteczko, of Derby, tied for first place. Sophomore Joshua Lara, of Hartford, took second place and sophomore Anthony LaBruno, of Kenilworth, N.J., was awarded third. First place winner of the College II Division, for juniors and seniors, was junior Jennifer Caraluzzi, of Bethel, with senior Victoria Chiera, of Danbury, in second and senior Sam Manandhar, of Stratford, in third. Honorable mention was given to senior Giulia Sanford, of Greenwich, and junior Hernan Berisso, of Riverside.
The annual competition, hosted by the NATS Connecticut chapter, took place in New Haven. All college students in the state were eligible to participate.
Dr. Dan Goble, chairman of WCSU’s music department, was pleased with the results.
“The strong showing by WestConn at this year’s competition is another testament to the high quality of our students in the department of music and to the excellence in teaching found in our faculty,” Goble said.
“Our voice students always look forward to the annual competition,” Goble added. “The event is similar to a professional audition and students can receive constructive comments from top professionals in their field.”
NATS is the largest association of voice teachers in the world with more than 6,500 members across the globe, with 14 NATS regions in the United States.
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