Shorter College voice students bring home wins from Georgia NATS auditions                        

March 5, 2010 - Nineteen Shorter College students took home awards during the annual Georgia National Association of Teachers of Singing Auditions recently. Out of a total of 47 students entered into the competition from Shorter, 23 students placed in the top three of the category divisions in which they competed. In this competition, Shorter was well represented as Shorter students were entered into 15 of the 26 categories. Additionally, Shorter had first-, second- and third-place winners in each of the 15 categories entered.

Students winning an overall award were Jonathan Parham, Edward “E.J” Laird, Jasmine Habersham, Trey Smagur, Chris Lewis, Laura Collins and Hannah Freeman.

Students winning first-, second- and third-place awards include Sarah Blake Hicks, third place, freshmen college women category; Tareva Moore, first place, freshmen college women category; Anne Marie Kelly, first place, freshmen college women category; Jonathan Parham, first place, freshmen college men category; Matthew Queen, first place, freshmen college men category; Joseph Sokohl, third place, freshmen college men category; Mary Diesch, second place, sophomore college women category; Hannah Freeman, third place, sophomore college women category; E.J. Laird, first place, sophomore college men category; Anthony Chu, second place, sophomore college men category; Trey Smagur, first place, sophomore college men category; Jasmine Habersham, first place, junior college-women category; Emily Tweedy, second place, junior college-women category and third place, upper level college women; Michelle Kelly, third place, musical theatre junior college-women category; Christina Sidlow, third place, senior college women category; Laura Collins, second place, advanced college women category; Emily Duke, third place; lower level college women category and Chelsea Cross, second place, lower level college women category.

The winning students’ professors at Shorter include Dr. Linda Lister, Dr. Sherri Weiler, Dr. Matthew Hoch, Dr. Kirsten Kunkle, Chuck Chandler and Jonathan Pilkington.

From left to right: Matthew Hoch (teacher of Edward “E.J.” Laird and Jasmine Habersham), Edward "EJ" Laird, Jasmine Habersham, Jonathan Parham, Chuck Chandler (teacher of Jonathan Parham).

From left to right: Chuck Chandler (teacher of Trey Smagur), Hannah Freeman, Laura Collins, Trey Smagur, Chris Lewis, Linda Lister (teacher of Hannah Freeman, Laura Collins, and Chris Lewis).

Founded in 1873, Shorter College is a Christian college committed to excellence in education. Since 2003, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Shorter among the South’s best baccalaureate colleges. The college offers traditional bachelor’s degrees in 48 major areas as well as undergraduate degree programs for working adults, the Master of Business Administration and the Master of Arts in Leadership. Online courses are also available. Shorter will transition to university status June 1, 2010. For more information, visit www.shorter.edu.

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