Local College of Fine Arts Students Dominate at South Dakota NATS Auditions

Students from the College of Fine Arts have received top awards at the South Dakota District and Regional National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Auditions. Participants included students from the University of South Dakota (USD), Augustana College, South Dakota State University, and Morningside University. Tracelyn Gesteland, a professor at the college, commended the students for their performances.

Abigail Beckler, a graduate student from Orange City, Iowa, won first place in Advanced Classical Treble. Denisse Balandran, a senior from Storm Lake, Iowa, won first place in Fourth/Fifth Year Classical Treble and Upper College Musical Theatre Treble. Brian Shirley, a senior from Rapid City, South Dakota, also won first place in Fourth/Fifth Year Classical TBB and Upper College Musical Theatre TBB.

Other winners included Jacob Olson, a sophomore from Sioux Falls, who won first place in Lower College Musical Theatre TBB. Michael Arriaza, a freshman from Schuyler, Nebraska, won second place in First Year Classical TBB and Lower College Musical Theatre TBB. Elisabeth Peirce, a senior from Elk Point, South Dakota, won second place in Upper College Musical Theatre Treble and third place in Fourth/Fifth Year Classical Treble.

From the studio of assistant professor Juan Carlos Mendoza, Brooke Hilding, a sophomore from Omaha, Nebraska, won first place in Lower College Musical Theatre Treble. Alma Sejmenović, a junior from Sioux Falls, won second place in Third Year Treble. Deanne Ekstrand, a senior from Pocahontas, Iowa, received an honorable mention in Fourth/Fifth Year Classical Treble.

Two USD voice students, Abigail Beckler and Denisse Balandran, also competed in the North Central regional rounds of the NATS Auditions and will advance to the national level. The national competition will take place in late April.

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