Amarillo College vocalists achieve success at NATS student auditions

Amarillo College had two vocalists use standout performances to place in the upper tiers at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) – Texoma Region – Student Auditions conducted Nov. 9-12 at West Texas A&M University.

AC’s Cadence Lowery-Hart was named a finalist in the Sophomore Treble category and therefore qualified to apply to enter NAT’s national competition; and Mariah Godwin of AC advanced to semifinalist status in Freshman Treble.

AC also was represented in the Freshman Treble category by Emily Garcia and Ariana Sanchez, while Gerardo Covarrubias and Jose Ruiz each sang for judges in the Freshman Tenor-Bass category.

Each student was adjudicated by a panel of three judges who provided assessment and critical feedback for the singer.

“All our singers have excellent voices,” said Dr. Melody Rich, an assistant professor of voice at AC who also serves as West Texas district governor for Texoma NATS. “They all worked very hard through many hours of rehearsals, and the judges were highly complementary of their performances.”

The three-state region’s three-day audition featured a total of 441 students from high school through university graduate level. The process consisted of a preliminary round, a semifinal round, and a finals round, each adjudicated by a different set of judges from prestigious schools.

This is the second year in a row in which Lowery-Hart has qualified to apply for the for NATS national event. Her judges hailed from Southern Methodist University, Texas Christian University, and Sam Houston State University.

Although she is a regional finalist, Lowery-Hart still must apply to enter the national competition slated for next summer. She has until mid-April to do so.

“It is a super competitive level. From all of the finalists across the U.S., only 20 are selected,” Rich said. “We aren't sure yet if Cadence will be attempting to compete at the National level, but it’s very exciting to have that opportunity.”