SVSU Students Earn Honors at Statewide Singing Competition

November 25, 2009
By: Julie McCallum, Entertainment Editor

Two student vocalists from Saginaw Valley State University earned honors from the National Association of Teachers of Singing in the Michigan student auditions, held November 7 at Western Michigan University.

Amanda Falk, a music major from Bay City, took first place in the mature beginners' division.

Music and theatre major and Bay City native Tami Snyder took third place in the Fourth-Year College Women, one of the largest and most competitive divisions in the event.

Both advance to the Great Lakes Regional event, to be held April 24 at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind.

In all, the audition drew 260 competitors from universities and private studios all over the state, including seven other students from SVSU. T

Rachelle Austin, a music major from Columbus, in the Third-Year College Women division

Ellie Frazier, a music education major from Vassar, in Second-Year College Women division

Jeremiah Kraniak, a music education major from New Haven, in the Fourth-Year College Men division

Rayechel Neiman, a music education major from Essexville, in the Fourth-Year College Women division

Mike Skutt, a music education major from Midland , in the Fourth-Year College Men division

Donavon Tear, a music major from Flint, in the Fourth-Year College Men division

M. Viktoria Wilson, a music major from Saginaw, in the First-Year College Women division

Participating students have studied under Julie Meyer or Kevin Smith of the SVSU Music Department. All were accompanied on stage by Cheryl Cheger-Timm, SVSU staff accompanist.

The National Association of Teachers of Singing is the world's largest association of its kind, with some 6,500 members from more than 25 countries around the world.