Dr. Anne Foradori
UNK Department of Music and Performing Arts, 308.865.8610
University of Nebraska at Kearney vocal students recently took part in the West Central Region of the National Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition.
“Our students advanced or placed in nine of the 11 categories in which they participated,” said Dr. Anne Foradori, UNK professor of music. “The students represented UNK very well, and demonstrated a professionalism and an esprit de corps of which our faculty can be proud.”
The students competed against other vocalists from Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming.
“Kudos and appreciation to our collaborative pianists Nancy Curry, Dr. Marilyn Musick, Todd Thalken and Jordan Peterson,” Dr. Foradori said. “These individuals prepared a total of 80 selections from standard and contemporary musical theatre, opera, oratorio and art song for these students.” Peterson is a UNK student from O’Neill.
The categories in which UNK students competed, and their placements, are listed below:
Freshmen Men – Nolan Pribnow of Lincoln, third place; Michael Cantrell of Grand Island, semi-finalist. Senior Women – Katherine Ridder of Kearney, fourth place.
Senior Men – Jordan Peterson of O’Neill, semi-finalist.
Graduate Women – Elizabeth Peters of North Platte, second place.
Younger Musical Theatre Women – Madison Hoge of Omaha, fifth place; and Megan Decker of Beatrice,
semi-finalist.
Younger Musical Theatre Men – Michael Cantrell of Grand Island, fifth place; Jared Flodman of Lincoln,
semi-finalist.
Older Musical Theatre Women- Katherine Ridder of Kearney, semi-finalist; Elizabeth Liebermann of
Omaha, semi-finalist.
Older Musical Theatre Men- Nate Rocke of Lincoln, second place; Codie Milford of Burlington, Colo.,
semi-finalist.
In addition to the UNK students, two Kearney High School students also placed in the competition category High School Women. Cassidy Beese, a student of Dr. Sharon Campbell, UNK assistant professor of music and performing arts, placed second; Ros Thalken, a student of Dr. Foradori, was a semi-finalist.
