SU Music Students Advance in NATS Auditions

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University voice students recently made history at the Maryland-D.C. National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) student auditions, with every student advancing to the Mid-Atlantic Regional level.

“They are young, and there is a lot of great talent in the state, so realistically, I go in expecting perhaps a percentage will advance, but not all,” said Dr. John Wesley Wright, coordinator of SU’s voice and opera programs. “We are thrilled.”

Category winners included:

•    Desiree Borges of La Plata, MD – first place, Musical Theatre, Upper College Women

•    Jeremiah Copeland of Delmar, DE – first place, Musical Theatre, Lower College Men; and Hall Johnson Spirituals

•    Lance Fisher of Princess Anne, MD – first place, Musical Theatre, Upper College Men

•    Patrick Gover of Clarksville, MD - second place, Musical Theatre, Lower College Men

•    Maggie Jones of Quantico, MD – second place, Musical Theatre, Upper College Women

•    Justin Kriger of Olney, MD – second place, Musical Theatre, Upper College Men

•    Gianna Pesaniello of Snow Hill, MD – first place, Musical Theatre, Lower College Women

•    Jordyn Stokes-Jones of Baltimore – third place, Musical Theatre, Upper College Women

•    Jeffrey Todd of Salisbury – second place, Classical, Upper College Men

Adam Beres of Pasadena, MD; Joshua Dennis of Salisbury; and Jessica Johnson of Baltimore also received Honors designations in the competition.

The NATS Mid-Atlantic Regionals are scheduled at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, in March. While in the area, Wright and the students also will perform the concert “From Baroque to Broadway” 4 p.m. Sunday, March 18, at Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church.

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU website at www.salisbury.edu.