UNA Vocal Students Compete Regionally and Nationally

Jul. 7, 2015

By Carole Maynard, UNA Department of Music & Theatre

Update: Fuqua competed in North Carolina on July 7. She placed third in the nation, an outstanding achievement for her and the vocal program at UNA. Dr. Tiffany Bostic-Brown, Fuqua's vocal professor who was with her at the competition, said Fuqua "represented UNA with honor and beauty of heart and voice." Fuqua received $500 prize money along with the honor.

FLORENCE, Ala. – While most college students were enjoying sandy beaches for spring break, several UNA vocal students were representing their department and their university at the prestigious National Teachers of Singing (NATS) vocal competition. 

NATS is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world. Each year NATS holds district and regional competitions around the country, culminating with the National Student Auditions. 

UNA competed in the district round, on February 20 at the University of Alabama, and seven UNA vocalists (pictured) advanced to the regional round, held on March 28 at Auburn University. At the Southeastern Regional, which includes Florida, Georgia and Alabama, UNA students competed with vocal students from institutions such as Florida State, University of Georgia, Alabama, Auburn and Georgia Tech. 

Competing at this level provides invaluable feedback and experience for the UNA students. 

“Having students compete not only provides our singers with an outlet to express their vocal ability,” said Dr. Terrance Brown, UNA’s director of vocal studies, “but also provides constructive feedback for both teacher and student alike about the progress of the student in comparison to other singers at collegiate level institutions around the country.” 

“When students go to the competition, it mimics the atmosphere of the auditioning singer’s life,” said Dr. Tiffany Bostic-Brown, a vocal professor at UNA. “Artists grow through observation and critique, and NATS provides that venue.” 

And for Florence native Gabrielle Fuqua, that competition paved the way for a spot to compete on the national level. 

At the Southeastern Regional, Fuqua was selected to submit to the national competition, which required that she submit a YouTube video of her performance of her four NATS audition pieces. A national committee then selected participants based on the videos. 

This national selection is a first for the UNA vocal program. 

“When students are selected to compete at the national level,” said Dr. Brown, “it provides notoriety for the institution as a whole, in addition to providing professional contacts for our students for graduate programs as well as other singing engagements.” 

Dr. Bostic-Brown, Fuqua’s vocal instructor, agrees. “When you sing, you never know who is there and what offers you will receive. At the national level there are universities from all over the United States, not to mention highly connected performers and teachers.” 

And while the honor of being selected hasn’t been lost on Fuqua, she is quick to give praise to those who have helped her achieve this goal. 

“I cannot express how blessed I am to have been at UNA for three years now. I am around some of the most talented people I have ever met,” she said. “The Browns have taught me that music is not just ink on a page, and that performing is not just moving from place to place—these are the things we are called to do and to make audiences feel something. I am so thankful to be one of their students.” 

Her instructors feel equally blessed to have Fuqua as part of the vocal studies program at UNA. 

“Gabby is inspired by life and music, and that combination makes her a very natural and dynamic performer, yet she is very humble,” said Bostic-Brown. “She is a performer who makes her performance not about herself, but about communicating and making her audience feel in the moment. This national success for Gabby will most likely bring others like her to UNA to add to our fine group of singers.” 

For now, Fuqua is focused on the competition. 

“What I am looking forward to the most is representing the UNA Department of Music and all of the things I’ve learned,” said Fuqua. “I’m also looking forward to auditioning with my collaborative accompanist Mrs. Karen Cantrell! Mrs. Cantrell is truly blessed with a gift, and I love being able to perform with her.” 

The Browns and Cantrell will travel with Fuqua to the National Student Auditions, which will be held July 7, 2015, during the 2015 NATS Summer Workshop at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 

For more information, contact the UNA Department of Music and Theatre at (256)765-5122.