Two singers from Midwestern State University placed in semifinal competition at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Regional Conference held at Texas A&M-Commerce in early November. Sophomore Kara Kicks advanced to the finals and placed fourth in the sophomore division. Junior Lindsay Rittenhouse also placed in the semifinal round. Both are vocal performance majors.

Others competing were freshman vocal music education major Chloe Dunlap, sophomore vocal music education major Emory Arnold, and senior vocal performance major Sharon Mucker.

"This is a remarkable feat considering MSU was competing against more than 100 colleges and universities from a three-state area," said music professor Don Maxwell. "Our competition was the likes of Baylor, TCU, SMU, the University of North Texas, University of Texas, Texas State University, Oklahoma City University, and Oklahoma University.

NATS was founded in 1944 to encourage the highest standards of the vocal art and of ethical principles in the teaching of singing and to promote vocal education and research at all levels. It is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world with nearly 7,000 members in the United States, Canada, and nearly 30 other countries. Internationally, NATS is represented in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom, with the number of countries growing every year.

Call Dr. Don Maxwell at 940-397-4242 for more information.