NEWS

Dr. Matt Giallongo, Lecturer in the School of Music, placed first runner-up in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Southern Region Conference Artist Awards. Two of his students, Emma Babin and Jessica Turner, also placed as semifinalists in student auditions.

Dr. WeiShu Tsai, Assistant Professor of Voice, was also named a finalist in the John Alexander National Vocal Competition organized by Opera Mississippi.

The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) is a professional organization for singing teachers, and it is the largest association of its kind. There are 14 regions in North America, and the Southern Region is composed of the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. This year, the Southern Region Conference was hosted by the University of Southern Mississippi.

In the NATS Artist Awards, the contestants need to prepare 14 classical selections in at least four different languages, with various styles from the 17th to 21st centuries.

The John Alexander National Vocal Competition was organized by Opera Mississippi, the state’s only professional opera company.

This story was written by Communication major Kelly Cole.