{"id":673,"date":"2019-07-17T18:18:41","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wcsu.wpengine.com\/news-archives\/nats-new-england-regional\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T18:18:41","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:41","slug":"nats-new-england-regional","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/news-archives\/nats-new-england-regional\/","title":{"rendered":"2015 WCSU music students qualify for national singing competition"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n DANBURY, CONN. <\/strong>\u2014 Ten Western Connecticut State University<\/a> music undergraduates and one WCSU music alumna have qualified for a national singing competition this year that places them among the most gifted young voice students across the United States.<\/p>\n

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WCSU participants swept three first-place, three second-place and five third-place honors in the recent New England regional round<\/a> of the 2015 National Association of Teachers of Singing<\/a> (NATS) student competition. Their placement among the top three singers in their regional divisions has qualified them to compete in the NATS national online screening round, where video submissions of their performances will be reviewed by a panel of judges to select 14 singers nationwide in each category to advance to the national semifinals. The NATS semifinal and final rounds will be held in July during the NATS summer workshop at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe National Association of Teachers of Singing is the largest professional organization for singing teachers in the United States,\u201d WCSU Professor of Music Dr. Margaret Astrup<\/a> remarked. \u201cFor our students to occupy most of the winning places for the entire New England region is quite remarkable!\u201d<\/p>\n

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WCSU students who won first-place honors in their categories included junior mezzo-soprano Kassiani Kontothanasis, of Meriden, in the Upper College Women\u2019s division; junior tenor Charles Widmer, of Oxford, tied for first in the Upper College Men\u2019s division; and sophomore soprano Arianna Carlo, of Brookfield, in the Lower College Women\u2019s division. Other Western students who placed in the top three of their divisions included:<\/p>\n

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\u2022\tGraduate\/Advanced Women division: WCSU 2010 alumna and mezzo-soprano Karolina Wojteczko, of Derby, third place.<\/p>\n

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\u2022\tUpper College Men\u2019s division: junior tenor Benjamin McCormack, of Trumbull, second place; junior baritone Steve Valenzuela, of Waterbury, third place.<\/p>\n

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\u2022\tLower College Women\u2019s division: sophomore mezzo-soprano Nicole Salamon, of Greenwich, second place; sophomore soprano Sophia Cannavo, of Winsted, and sophomore mezzo-soprano Kaitlyn Carruthers, of Fairfield, tied for third place.<\/p>\n

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\u2022\tLower College Men\u2019s division: freshman baritone Matthew Feinberg, of Cheshire, second place; freshman baritone Daniel Satter, of Trumbull, third place.<\/p>\n

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For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.<\/p>\n

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\n Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England\u2019s best small private universities.<\/em><\/p>\n

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