Belton, Texas – On July 9, Stephen Ash and Karon Chapa, vocal students in the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor music department, took part in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Artist Awards Competition for Singers in Chicago. They each were the first performers from UMHB to ever earn this high honor.
Ash and Chapa competed in the semifinal round of the competition, meaning they were each listed as being among the top 14 singers in the nation. Unlike athletics, there are no divisions based on the relative sizes of the institutions competing. Instead, the singers were divided only age groups.
To even be considered for the contest, each of them had to win first place at the Texoma regional audition. After that competition was over, each of them had to submit a video audition through YouTube to be adjudicated by a panel of national judges.
“It was kind of strange to sing in a professional high stakes competition. It was very enjoyable but a little stressful as well,” Ash said. “Mostly, I was just thankful for an opportunity to make music.”
The criteria for these judgments extend beyond the mere quality of singing.
“It’s not only how you sing but the dramatic presentation, the visual presentation, as well,” Lisa Clement, Director of Vocal Studies at UMHB said.
“They are not only looking for vocals but stage presence, personality, and confidence, which are all things I’m comfortable with,” Chapa said.
During the semifinal competition, both Ash and Chapa performed well, but neither was chosen to be among the three singers to advance to the final round of competition.
“It was really disappointing,” Ash said. “but I was just thankful to be here and be a national semifinalist.”
Still, Lisa says the results were very positive.
“I’m so incredibly proud,” Clement said. “This was a highly competitive event, and the perspective and growth the students received from competing at the national level are irreplaceable.”
Over the same weekend in Chicago, Chapa also competed against 24 other vocalists from colleges across the United States in the National Music Theater Competition, where she was recognized as one of the 8 finest singers in the country and advanced to the final round of competition.
That final performance was held in front of a large audience, which included judges, who are professional casting agents from the east and west coasts. At the end of that competition, Chapa was declared an unranked finalist and tied for fifth place with three other performers.
“At the age of 20 years, Karon was the youngest competitor in the finals. The first place winner was 30 years old and the other singers were all 24 or older,” Clement said. “This was a tremendous and encouraging experience!”
“I got to meet with talent scouts and agents from New York who were incredibly encouraging, and they all simply told me that it's just not my time yet but that it will be,” Chapa said. “which was incredibly reaffirming.”
