University of Toledo Music students capture high honors
Three University of Toledo student singers have won high honors at recent national, regional and state competitions. Moises Salazar (tenor), an undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance, advanced to the finals in the national Orpheus Vocal Competition and took home a scholarship to study in Austria this summer. Master’s degree voice student, Chelsie Cree (mezzo soprano), won not only her category, Advanced Women (ages 22-24), she also took 1st Place among the winners of The Great Lakes Region Student Auditions for NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing), held March 4. She will advance to the national prelims, and if successful there, will advance to national competition. At the state level, Voice major, Meridian Prall (mezzo soprano), won 1st place in the Ohio NATS competition in the Junior Women division. The NATS state competition was held in October. Though Meridian advanced to the regional NATS held this past weekend, she was unable to compete because she was studying abroad in China. For the winner’s circle competition, Chelsie wowed the judges with her performance of Despina’s aria, In uomini, in soldati, from the W. A. Mozart opera, “Cosi fan tutte.” The winner’s circle competition was among all adult winners from the competition, regardless of gender. Chelsie says she believes her win underscores the importance of acting as well as singing. “I sang fine, but I won with my acting ability. The judges said I had a ‘very committed and touching performance,’ and that my acting was very strong.” Moises took 2nd Place in the Young Artist (ages 25-30) category of the Orpheus Vocal Competition, a national signing competition sponsored by the Middle Tennessee Choral Society, which was held March 4-5. His prize is a scholarship to study voice this summer at the American Institute of Musical Studies Summer Programs in Austria for Voice, Piano, & Orchestra. The Orpheus competition’s generous prizes attract top singers from all over the United States and Moises had serious competition, especially since he was the only undergraduate student in his category. Judges commented to him, “if you stay on track, you’ll be singing at the Met!” Even audience members were impressed and remarked that Moises “sounds like a young Pavarotti.” Among the songs in his program were, Torna ai felici dì from Puccini’s opera, “Le Villi,” and La donna è mobile from Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” Moises is currently studying under Micah Graber. Once he graduates, Moises hopes to continue singing and pursue a career in opera. Chelsie is a student of Micah Graber and Dr. Denise Ritter Bernardini. Meridian studies under Dr. Bernardini. These students are active in UT voice ensembles and regular cast members in UT Opera Ensemble productions. They have all been cast in the upcoming UT Opera performances of “The Brothers Grimm” and “Little Red Riding Hood,” running April 21-23 at UT. Visit the UT Department of Music opera page at http://www.utoledo.edu/al/svpa/music/ensembles/utopera.html
Press Release Contact Name: Dr. Denise Ritter Bernardini
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Press Release Contact Phone: 419-530-4189
Organization Name: University of Toledo School of Visual and Performing Arts