Singers from Emporia State University came home with a several top awards from the National Association of Teachers of Singing regional convention held recently in Wichita.
Kevin Nardi, a baritone, took first place in the sophomore men’s classical division, as well as fifth place in his division in musical theater.
Courtney Slater of Emporia received second place in the senior musical theater division.
Maria Stuckey, Amanda Meyer, and Dion Johnson advanced to the semifinals. Stuckey was chosen to sing in the classical master class and Stuckey was chosen for the musical theater master class.
The convention rotates from state to state each year and consists of Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming, according to Penny Speedie, associate professor of music.
Speedie said that approximately 345 students competed in the preliminaries and approximately one-quarter of them advance to the semi-finals.
“This is narrowed down to five finalists in each division,” she said.