This past weekend, a large cohort of Shenandoah Conservatory singers travelled to George Mason University to compete in the annual Virginia chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Competition.

Students of Professor of Voice Byron Jones ’04, D.M.A.; Auxiliary Adjunct Associate Professor of Voice and Co-Founder of the CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute Edrie Means Weekly ’84, M.M.; Adjunct Assistant Professor of Voice Melissa Jean Chávez ’15, D.M.A.; and Associate Professor of Voice (Soprano) Fotina Naumenko, D.M.A., competed in various genres and categories against students in their age group from across the state.

“It was so exciting to see Shenandoah students shine and be recognized for their achievements,” said Dr. Naumenko. “There is some stellar singing happening at SU, and the extensive list of wins and honors for our students reflects this high level.”

Students of Dr. Fotina Naumenko

Kinsey McCulloch ’28 (Bachelor of Music in Performance)
1st Place (tie) and Regional Qualifier, First Year Classical Treble Voices

Aislin Given ’28 (Bachelor of Music in Performance)
Regional Qualifier, First Year Classical Treble Voices

Erin Finnigan ’26 (Bachelor of Music in Performance)
1st Place and Regional Qualifier, Second Year Classical Treble Voices

Darynn Wanamaker ’27 (Bachelor of Music in Performance)
3rd Place, Second Year Classical Treble Voices

Tegan Smith ’27 (Bachelor of Music in Performance)
Regional Qualifier, Second Year Classical Treble Voices

Grace Ashby ’25 (Bachelor of Music in Performance)
1st Place and Regional Qualifier, Third Year Classical Treble Voices
1st Place and Regional Qualifier, Third Year Musical Theater Treble Voices

Shannon Fowler ’25 (Bachelor of Music in Performance)
3rd Place and Regional Qualifier, Third Year Classical Treble Voices
2nd Place and Regional Qualifier, Third Year Musical Theater Treble Voices

Sofia Stankiewicz ’25 (Bachelor of Music in Performance)
1st Place and Regional Qualifier, Fourth Year Classical Treble Voices

Jane Gowen ’25 (Master of Music in Performance)
1st Place and Regional Qualifier, Lower Advanced Musical Theater Treble Voices
3rd Place and Regional Qualifier, Lower Advanced Classical Treble Voices

Students of Edrie Means Weekly

Mya Corby ’25 (Bachelor of Music Therapy)
2nd Place and Regional Qualifier, Upper Commercial Music Treble Voices

Students of Dr. Byron Jones

Julian Robbins ’27 (Bachelor of Music in Performance)
1st Place, Regional Qualifier, First Year Classical TBB voices

Riah Lubansky ’28 (Bachelor of Music in Performance)
1st Place (tie), Regional Qualifier, First Year Classical Treble

Savannah Stephens ’27 (Bachelor of Music in Performance)
1st Place (tie), Regional Qualifier, First Year Classical Treble

Michael Bromley ’26 (Bachelor of Music in Performance)
1st Place, Regional Qualifier, Third Year Classical TBB

John Tuvera Lim ’25 (Master of Music in Conducting)
1st Place, Regional Qualifier, Upper Advanced Classical TBB

Brooke Frampton ’26 (Bachelor of Music in Performance)
Honors, Regional Qualifier, Second Year Classical Treble

Maximiliano Fernández Escalona ’25 (Bachelor of Music in Music Education)
3rd Year Musical Theatre TBB, 2nd Place, Regional Qualifier
3rd Year Classical TBB, 3rd Place

Cassidy Holmes ’25 (Bachelor of Music in Performance)
1st Place, American Negro Spiritual Category

Students of Dr. Melissa Jean Chávez

Isabel Bock ’28 (Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Musicianship & Entrepreneur Development)
3rd Place, Regional Qualifier, 1st and 2nd Year Contemporary Music Treble

Ruth Castellano ’25 (Bachelor of Arts in Music)
1st Place, Regional Qualifier, 4th and 5th Year Musical Theatre Treble
1st Place, 4th and 5th Year Classical Treble

Zoie Foster ’27 (Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre Accompanying)
2nd Place, Regional Qualifier, 2nd Year Musical Theatre Treble

Jonathan Margrave ’25 (Bachelor of Music in Performance)
1st Place, Regional Qualifier, 4th and 5th year Classical TBB

Natalie McCrowell ’25 (Bachelor of Music Therapy)
1st Place, Regional Qualifier, 4th and 5th Year Musical Theatre Treble
1st Place, Regional Qualifier, 3rd, 4th and 5th Year Contemporary Music Treble

Sally McGrath ’25 (Bachelor of Arts in Music)
2nd Place, 4th and 5th Year Classical Treble

Miles McKee ’27 (Bachelor of Arts in Music)
2nd Place, Regional Qualifier
2nd Year Classical Treble

Hamesha Mora ’28 (Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Musicianship & Entrepreneur Development)
Honors, Regional Qualifier, 1st and 2nd Year Contemporary Music Treble

Kathryn Schumacher ’27 (Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Musicianship & Entrepreneur Development)
1st Place, Regional Qualifier, 1st and 2nd Year Contemporary Music Treble

Auguste Thielemann ’28 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting)
1st Place, Regional Qualifier, 1st Year Musical Theatre TBB

Greylynn Waite ’26 (Bachelor of Arts in Music)
Honors, Regional Qualifier, 3rd Year Musical Theatre Treble