Eleven BYU voice students competed in the Cal-Western Region of National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and came home with several 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards.
NATS is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting “vocal education and research at all levels, both for the enrichment of the general public and for the professional advancement of the talented.” These 11 BYU students are the pupils of Diane Reich, Michele Scott, Darrell Babidge and Arden Hopkin, all of whom are voice teachers on campus.
It was a clean sweep for BYU at the Las Vegas Competition:
Tyrell Wilde was voted Best in the West as the outstanding singer of the competition.
Four students placed 1st in their divisions:
- Kevin Smith, College Musical Theatre
- Tyrell Wilde, Lower College Classical
- Jennifer McKay, Upper College Classical
- Brittany Andam, Adult Classical
Three students placed 2nd in their divisions:
- Chandra Goodel, Lower College Classical
- Jordan Reynolds, College Musical Theatre
- Ben Bird, Upper College Classical
One student placed 3rd in their division
- Rebecca Selberg, Lower College Musical
Three students received honorable mention in their divisions
- Katie Armantrout, Lower College Classical
- Kalie Martin, Upper College Classical
- David Seay, Adult Classical
“I feel very blessed and humbled to be receiving such recognition,” one of the competing BYU students said. “I do not know what God would like me to do with my voice, but I am ever willing to do it.”