SFA vocal students excel at regional competition
December 8, 2009
SFA vocal students received honors at a recent regional competition that included over 500 students from Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Pictured, seated, from left, are Tiffanny Hamilton, Kylie Steed and Monica Hamilton. Standing, from left, are Patrick Wright, Keith LaLonde, Adam Williams, Patrick Russell, Stephen Hannah, Casey Parrish and Joshua Dennis.
NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Ten Stephen F. Austin State University vocal students were named as finalists at the recent regional conference of the National Association of Teachers of Singing held in Lubbock.
Baritone Stephen Hannah, of Jacksonville, received second place in the freshmen men's division; tenor Keith LaLonde and baritone Adam Williams, both of Pearland, received fourth and fifth places, respectively in the sophomore men's division; and bass-baritone Patrick Wright, of Waco, received fourth place in the graduate men's division. All four men study with Scott LaGraff, SFA assistant professor of voice.
Sopranos Monica Hamilton, of Gallatin, and Tiffanny Hamilton, of Longview, received third place and honorable mention, respectively, in the graduate women's division. Both women are students of Debbie Berry, SFA vocal instructor.
Baritone Patrick Russell, of Harlingen, and tenor Joshua Dennis, of McKinney, received third and fourth place, respectively, in the senior men's division. Both study with Bruce Fowler, SFA assistant professor of voice.
Other fourth place winners were baritone Casey Parrish, of Livingston (junior men's division) and soprano Kylie Steed, of Tomball (sophomore women's division). Both are students of Nita Hudson, SFA vocal instructor.
Additionally, soprano LaDonna Jackson, who studied with SFA Associate Professor Debbie Dalton last year and is now attending graduate school at Southern Methodist University, received Honorable Mention in the graduate women's division.
Ten other SFA students advanced to the semi-final rounds in the competition that included over 500 students from Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
"SFA certainly made its mark at this competition," said Dalton. "Our students' success is a reflection of our entire vocal program."