USD Singers Compete at South Dakota NATS Competition
USD competed against South Dakota State University (SDSU) and Northern State University (NSU).
The students are part of the studio of Tracelyn Gesteland, D.M.A., professor of voice/opera and the Walter A. and Lucy Yoshioka Buhler Endowed Chair.
“This was the state’s first NATS competition since 2019 due to the pandemic, so it was wonderful to come back together after so long and be able to celebrate everyone’s love for singing,” said Gesteland. “All of the students represented themselves and their universities extremely well. It was a joy to watch them perform at such a high level and with such heart.”
Results
1st in Graduate Classical
- Lauren Paul, graduate vocal performance major from Evansville, Wisconsin
1st in Sophomore Treble
- Katelyn Privett, sophomore music education major from Sioux Falls, South Dakota
1st in Upper College Treble Musical Theatre
- Lauren Paul
1st in Upper College TBB Musical Theatre
- Rylan Craig, junior musical arts major from Vermillion, South Dakota
1st in Lower College Treble Musical Theatre
- Katelyn Privett
1st in Lower College TBB Musical Theatre
- Brian Shirley, sophomore musical arts and business major from Rapid City, South Dakota
2nd in Senior Treble
- Garrett Adam, senior vocal and flute performance major from Yankton, South Dakota
2nd in Junior Treble
- Margaret Meierhenry, junior musical arts major from Sioux Falls, South Dakota
2nd in Sophomore Treble
- Elisabeth Peirce, sophomore vocal performance and music education major from Elk Point, South Dakota
2nd in Sophomore TBB
- Brian Shirley
2nd in Upper College Treble Musical Theatre
- Elizabeth Whitehead, graduate choral conducting major from Aberdeen, South Dakota
2nd in Lower College Treble Musical Theatre
- Maleah Wright, freshman music education major from Kearney, Nebraska
3rd in Junior Treble
- Denisse Balandran, junior vocal performance major from Storm Lake, Iowa
3rd in Upper College Treble Musical Theatre
- Denisse Balandran
3rd in Upper College TBB Musical Theatre
- Colby Stoos, senior music education major from Sergeant Bluff, Iowa
Honorable Mentions in Freshmen Treble
- Taya Bult, freshman music education major from Scotland, South Dakota
- Maleah Wright
Honorable Mention in Upper College Treble Musical Theatre
- Margaret Meierhenry
Honorable Mention in Lower College Treble Musical Theatre
- Elisabeth Peirce
From the studio of Juan Carlos Mendoza, D.M.A., assistant professor of voice/opera:
Finalist in Adult Classical
- Marcus Klassen, sophomore vocal performance major from Elmira, Ontario, Canada, as part of Juan Carlos Mendoza, D.M.A., assistant professor of voice/opera
The collaborative pianists were Deanna Wehrspann, Diane Van Den Oever, Spencer Smith, Deanne Ekstrand, Grace Gasperich and Hannah Koruschak.
