Four Missouri State University vocal performance students placed in the final rounds of the Central Regional National Association of Teachers of Singing (CRNATS) student auditions Oct. 31-Nov. 1.
Veronika Yerina, a junior vocal performance and biology double major, placed first in the upper division treble category. She sang Mozart’s “Dove sono i bei momenti.”
Senior vocal performance major Kyleigh Hendrix placed second in the upper division treble category, while sophomore vocal performance major Mara Bannister placed third in lower division treble. Payton Ballinger, who is pursuing a master’s in vocal performance, placed third in advanced division.
All four now advance to the national semifinals, which will be held in the spring of 2026.
Other students participating in the CRNATS competition were Abigail Teberian, Allison Britt, Aryan Neece-McHaffie, Ella Greninger, Noah Maddox, Jacob Leath, Parker Ohman, Kaitlyn Wilson and Wade Bogart. Eight of these students advanced to the semifinal rounds.
Several members of Missouri State’s music faculty traveled with the students. They were Dr. Carol Chapman, voice area coordinator; Dr. Perry Mears, assistant professor of collaborative piano and accompanist; Dr. Chris Thompson, professor of vocal music; Dr. Ann Marie Daehn, professor of vocal music and Opera Workshop; Visiting Artist Kara McBain; and Dr. Paula Patterson, head of the Department of Music.
“We are all very proud of the students that participated in the auditions,” Chapman said.
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