BrownwoodNews – Four Howard Payne University music students participated last month in the Summer Program Auditions sponsored by the Texoma Region of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. The auditions are attended by casting representatives from young artist programs within the United States, as well as international programs. Each of the HPU students received multiple offers from artist programs in England and Italy.
Students attending the auditions were Leland Brown, sophomore vocal performance major from Euless; Sadie Perez, junior vocal performance major from Brownwood; Brendyn Porter, senior vocal studies major from Red Oak; and Andreahnna Rosenquist, sophomore vocal performance major from Brownwood. Perez and Rosenquist are students of Dr. Celeste Church, dean of institutional research and effectiveness and professor of voice. Brown and Porter are students of Dr. Gregory Church, professor of music.
“The fact that each of these students attended their first audition for young artist programs and received two or more offers speaks to the level of talent we have in the vocal program at Howard Payne,” said Dr. Celeste Church. “Our students are comparable with singers from the finest schools in our region.”
Students accepted into these programs may participate in a wealth of opportunities including two to six weeks on location, private coaching, language lessons, recital performances, opera scenes performances, and acting and movement instruction, all from professionally recognized instructors. It is a wonderful opportunity that can provide a foundation for graduate work and a career in performance.
“These programs are an important first step for young singers to begin establishing their careers as professionals,” said Dr. Gregory Church. “The money spent to participate in these programs is an investment in the students’ futures.”
Participation in summer artist programs is a privilege, but it is also costly. For the HPU students to take advantage of one of these opportunities, it will require a significant investment of time, energy and financial resources. There are limited scholarships offered for some of the programs, but it falls to these students to pay for their travel and program tuition.
Those interested in supporting one or more of these students in taking advantage of this opportunity, may contact Randy Yeakley, HPU’s vice president of development at 325-649-8804. You may contribute to the “HPU Fine Arts Enrichment Fund” by sending a check payable to Howard Payne University to P.O. Box 2369, Brownwood, Texas 76804.
For more information, please contact HPU’s Office of Institutional Advancement at 325-649-8006 or give@hputx.edu.
