Competition Finalists
December 4, 2014
UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications
UT Tyler to Compete in National Opera Association Competition
December 4, 2014
Media Contact: Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)
December 4, 2014
The University of Texas at Tyler is among the top collegiate teams to compete in the National Opera Association’s Scenes Competition, Dr. Michael Thrasher, UT Tyler School of Performing Arts director, announced.
This is UT Tyler’s first appearance in the final round of the competition, which will be held Jan. 8, 2015 during the NOA Annual Convention in Greensboro, N.C.
UT Tyler student finalists are soprano Kelsey Pate and tenor Jay Williams, both of Tyler, mezzo-soprano Janis Newman of Athens and soprano Lauren Cook of San Antonio. Dr. Sooah Park, UT Tyler assistant professor of music, serves as program coordinator.
“We are very proud of our vocal music students and this prestigious honor they have received,” Thrasher said. “Dr. Park is doing outstanding work with our student opera program, and this is confirmation of the program’s quality. We wish them the best in the final round of competition.”
Competing in the graduate-level division, the students will perform Scene 10 and 11 from “The Old Maid and the Thief” by Gian Carlo Menotti. Other competitors this year are teams from University of Nevada – Las Vegas, Wichita State University and Georgia State University.
To qualify for the competition, Park submitted an application and a six-minute Youtube video of the UT Tyler School of Performing Arts’ spring 2014 performance of the production. UT Tyler was selected to advance from 12 contending teams.
Scenes will be judged on musical style and accuracy, diction, vocal quality, basic stagecraft, individual characterization and ensemble interaction, as well as creative use of the set, props and costumes. First and second place prizes will be awarded.
For additional information, contact Park, 903.566.7088 or spark@uttyler.edu.
The UT Tyler School of Performing Arts, which houses opera and musical theater programming, provides a quality environment where students develop knowledge, skills and professionalism to work as artists.
UT Tyler staged productions are generally open to students of any major, based upon audition. Recent staged and semi-staged productions have included “The Old Maid and the Thief,” “Little Women,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Carousel,” “Finian’s Rainbow,” “Le Nozze di Figaro” “The Magic Flute” and “Hansel and Gretel.”
For more information, visit the UT Tyler School of Performing Arts website.
The National Opera Association, the largest opera association in the nation, promotes artistic excellence and education in opera. The NOA was founded in 1955, under the auspices of the National Music Council. NOA seeks to promote a greater appreciation of opera and music theatre, to enhance pedagogy and performing activities and to increase performance opportunities by supporting projects that improve the scope and quality of opera. Members in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia participate in a wide array of activities in support of this mission.
For more information, visit www.noa.org/.
One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 8,000 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.
Opera Finalists: (from left) Williams, Newman and Pate (Not Pictured: Cook) in a scene from "The Old Maid and the Thief." UT Tyler will compete with three other collegiate teams in the 2014 National Opera Association's Opera Competition Finals to be held Jan. 8, 2015 during the NOA Annual Convention in Greensboro, N.C.