Four Geneva students from the Music Department performed at the NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) Tri-State audition at West Virginia University on November 12, 2016. All are from the voice studio of Dr. David Kenneth Smith, Associate Professor of Music.
Music Business major Eden Smith of Wilkinsburg, PA, placed third among freshmen women in the Classical division and received a cash prize. Advancing into the final round, Smith was able to perform for all contestants and teachers in attendance.
Senior Music Education major Matthew Montgomery of New Castle, PA, junior Music and Psychology major Christopher McCown of Hermitage, PA, and junior Communication / PR major Benjamin Kennedy of Beaver Falls, PA, also performed at the highly competitive audition.
The singers were accompanied by Geneva pianist Michael Kearney of Mount Sinai, NY. Michael, a senior Communication / PR major, was one of very few undergraduate student accompanists who played for the competition that included a staff of professional pianists, including Dr. Smith’s wife Marie Libal-Smith.
The NATS Audition allowed these Geneva students to perform, hear their regional peers perform and match their wits and talents against their competition. The Tri-State NATS chapter includes Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and West Virginia. Because of the prominence of the universities and magnet arts schools in the area, the competition can be particularly fierce for all competitors.
Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor. Offering over 40 traditional undergraduate majors and programs, Adult Degree Programs with fully online and classroom options, and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality. U.S. News & World Report ranks Geneva as a Top Five Best Value with one of the Top 100 engineering programs in the nation. Adhering to the truth of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God’s Word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today’s world.
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