Lawrence University Singers Capture Five Firsts in State Competition

APPLETON, WIS. -- Lawrence University Conservatory of Music voice students captured first-place honors in five of 12 undergraduate divisions Nov. 1-2 at the Wisconsin chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) audition competition held at UW-Stevens Point.

Tim Schmidt received first-place recognition for the second consecutive year, winning the continuing senior men division. Other first-place finishers included Jim Dedering, freshman men, Laura Muller, freshman women, Elaine Moran, music theatre lower college division and Meg Ozaki, senior women division. In addition, Alisa Jordheim, a junior at Appleton North High School who studies with Lawrence voice professor Patrice Michaels, placed first in the high school women division.

A total of 33 Lawrence students and two Lawrence Academy of Music students participated in the NATS competition, with 16 of them advancing to the finals. Second-place finishers include freshman Spencer Dorn, sophomore Eric Peterson and senior Jake Allen. Junior Jen Tokarski and senior Jennifer Matthews earned third-place honors in their respective divisions.

Schmidt, Dorn and Allen are students of Ken Bozeman. Dedering studies with Brian and Karen Leigh Post. Muller is a student of Karen Leigh Post. Moran studies in Rico Serbo's voice studio. Ozaki studies with Michaels. Mathews, Peterson and Tokarski are all students of Joanne Bozeman.

The 2002 NATS competition featured more than 300 singers from colleges and high schools throughout the state. Competitors are required to sing either two or three classical pieces from different time periods, depending upon the category, and at least one selection is sung in a foreign language. Three state voice teachers serve as jurors for the competition.