Shenandoah Conservatory Hosts and Shines at VA Chapter of NATS Fall Conference
Shenandoah Conservatory hosted the fall conference for the Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing on Friday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 25. The event welcomed more than 200 singers, pianists and teachers from across Virginia. The conservatory has a long history with this organization and many state officers have been Shenandoah University (SU) faculty members over the years.
Participating conservatory faculty included Professor of Voice Byron Jones ’04, D.M.A., (past president and site coordinator); Adjunct Assistant Professor of Voice Melissa Jean Chávez ’15, D.M.A., (president), Co-Founder of CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute and Auxiliary Adjunct Associate Professor of Voice Edrie Means Weekly ’84, M.M., (board member and workshop presenter); Artistic Director of the CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute, Coordinator of Musical Theatre Voice and Associate Professor of Voice & Musical Theatre Matt Edwards ’15, D.M.A., (workshop presenter); and Adjunct Associate Professor of Voice (CCM) Allison Crockett, M.M., (workshop presenter).
Twenty-seven Shenandoah Conservatory students placed in their respective audition categories and many qualified for the regional event in College Park, Maryland, this March.
| Name | Category | Place | Honors Qualifier | Studio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Bromley ’26 (Bachelor of Arts in Music) | CL 8A/8B | 1st Place | Yes | Byron Jones |
| Maximiliano Fernández Escalona ’26 (Bachelor of Music in Music Education) | CL 8A/8B | Yes | Byron Jones | |
| Grace Ashby ’26 (Bachelor of Music in Performance) | CL 7B | 2nd Place | Yes | Fotina Naumenko/Chelsea Cushman |
| Mack Sine ’29 (Bachelor of Music in Music Education) | CL 5A MT 5A | 2nd Place 1st Place | Yes | Melissa Jean Chávez |
| Ella Robinson ’29 (Bachelor of Music in Performance) | CL 5A | 4th Place | Yes | Diane Atherton |
| Alyssa Bonfardeci ’27 (Master of Music in Pedagogy – Voice) | CL 9A | 2nd Place | Yes | Melissa Jean Chávez |
| Olivia Scanzera ’27 (Master of Music in Pedagogy – Voice) | CL 9A | 3rd Place | Yes | Diane Atherton |
| Mary-Kelly Reimel ’26 (Master of Music in Performance) | CL 9A | Yes | Diane Atherton | |
| Kinsey McCulloch ’28 (Bachelor of Music in Performance) | CL 5B | 1st Place | Yes | Naumenko/Cushman |
| Savannah Stephens ’28 (Bachelor of Music in Performance) | CL 5B | 2nd Place | Yes | Byron Jones |
| Aislin Given ’28 (Bachelor of Music in Performance) | CL 5B | 3rd Place | Fotina Naumenko/Chelsea Cushman | |
| Emma Faraone ’27 (Bachelor of Music in Performance) | CM 7A | 1st Place in Commercial Music | Yes (Classical Music) | Fotina Naumenko/Chelsea Cushman |
| Tegan Smith ’27 (Bachelor of Music in Performance) | CL 7A CM 7A | 2nd Place in Commercial Music | Yes (Classical Music) | Fotina Naumenko/Chelsea Cushman |
| Barbara Johnson ’26 (Bachelor of Music Therapy) | MT 7A CM 7A | 1st Place 3rd Place | Yes | Edrie Means Weekly |
| Madelyn Taxis | MT 5B | 2nd Place | Yes | Edrie Means Weekly |
| Fox Desrosiers ’24, ’27 (Bachelor of Arts in Music, Master of Music Pedagogy – Voice) | MT 10A/10 BCM 10A | 2nd Place 1st Place | Yes | Melissa Jean Chávez/Edwards |
| Erin Finnigan ’27 (Bachelor of Music in Performance) | CL 7A | 2nd Place | Honors | Naumenko/Cushman |
| Brooke Frampton ’27 (Bachelor of Music in Performance) | CL 7A | 3rd Place | Yes | Byron Jones |
| Alexandra Richardson ’27 (Bachelor of Music in Performance) | CL 7A | Yes | Diane Atherton | |
| Sha Wu ’28 (Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance) | CL 9B | 1st Place | Yes | Fotina Naumenko/Chelsea Cushman |
| Morna Hu ’28 (Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance) | CL 9B | 3rd Place | Yes | Fotina Naumenko/Chelsea Cushman |
| Ishmeal Parsons ’27 (Master of Music in Conducting) | MT 10A/10B | 1st Place | Yes | Lori Şen |
| Henry Waldrop ’28 (Bachelor of Music in Performance) | CL 6A/6B | 3rd Place | Yes | Byron Jones |
| Zoie Foster ’27 (Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre Accompanying) | MT 7A | 2nd Place | Yes | Edrie Means Weekly |
| Isabel Bock ’28 (Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Musicianship & Entrepreneur Development) | CM 5B | 3rd Place | Yes | Melissa Jean Chávez |
| Kathryn Schumacher ’28 (Bachelor of Arts in Music) | CM 5B | 2nd Place | Yes | Melissa Jean Chávez |
| Kaylee Wisner ’28 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting) | MT 5B | 1st Place | Yes | Lori Şen |
