A total of eight voice students taught by members of the Hope College music faculty earned honors during the statewide auditions held by the Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), held at Wayne State University on Saturday, April 4.
The honorees included seven Hope students and one
area high school student.
NATS is the professional association for voice
teachers. Approximately 250 contestants from around the
state, from high school age through the graduate level and
"continuing education" level, competed in a variety of
divisions.
Megan Hicks, a junior from Trabuco Canyon, Calif.,
earned first place in the college junior women division.
Patricia Rhiew, a sophomore from Farmington Hills, earned
first place in the college sophomore women division.
Tracy Miller, a freshman from Gurnee, Ill., earned
first place in the first-year college women division.
Sophomores Jill Bennink of Holt and Holly Vaughn of Traverse
City tied for third place in the college sophomore women
division.
Three students received Honorable Mentions:
Meredith Arwady, a sophomore from Kalamazoo, in the college
sophomore women division; Ann Barry, a senior from Midland,
in the college senior women division; and Tom Crisp, a
senior at West Ottawa High School, in the high school
musical theatre division.
Hope faculty members with whom the students have
worked include Linda Dykstra, Margaret Kennedy-Dygas,
Elizabeth LaGrande and Stuart Sharp.