Nineteen Fort Hays State University students competed recently against approximately 450 student singers from Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado in the annual National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) West Central Region Conference and Student Audition competition in Lincoln, Neb.
The event began with a preliminary round where students sang for a panel of judges. Finalists performed again for everyone present. In order to sing in the NATS competition, a student must study with a current member of NATS.
FHSU’s Dr. Joseph Perniciaro and Dr. Ivalah Allen, both assistant professors of music and theatre, took the students to the competition.  
Regional finalists and award winners: Bison, Steven Cornwell, senior, fourth place college senior men’s division; Hays, Eriana Holle, junior, fifth place junior women’s division; Russell, Calder Craig, fifth place graduate student men’s division.
Regional semi-finalists: Hays, Max Haverfield, sophomore, sophomore men’s division, Rebecca Urban, sophomore, sophomore women’s division; Hoxie, Karl Pratt, senior, senior men’s division; Quinter, Hayley Funk, sophomore, sophomore women’s division.
Regional master class participants: Kanopolis, Alexander Stout, junior, classical master class alternate; Hoxie, Karl Pratt, senior, classical master class.
Founded in 1944, NATS has more than 7,000 members in the United States, Canada and over 25 other countries. NATS offers a variety of lifelong learning experiences to its members including workshops, intern programs, master classes and conferences. Students of NATS members have access to one of the organization’s widely recognized activities, the Student Auditions.