It’s no secret that the University of St. Thomas-Houston has an excellent Music Department and that UST’s voice majors are taught by a superb faculty. As a result, seven of the University’s vocal music majors competed in the 2021 National Association of Teachers of Singing Texoma regional competition. Texoma is the largest region in the U.S. and encompasses university student competitors from Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Congratulations go to three current UST voice students who ranked as semi-finalists, and one of them went forward to the highly selective final round. Here they are:

• Adam Kramer – finalist, Freshmen Men division
• Eduardo Katoul Rahbani – semi-finalist, Junior Men division
• Jeremy Treviño – semi-finalist, Senior Men division

Other UST student competitors selected for Texoma NATS include music majors Jessica Thrift and Mariana Rodriguez for sophomore women. And Israel Jimenez and Ryan Fontenant for senior men.

“I am exceedingly proud of all seven of our outstanding singers,” said Dr. Brady Knapp, UST’s Music Chair and associate professor of voice. “It is a great pleasure to work with these gifted young people in the voice studio. They have represented the St. Thomas community very well all week long!”

Knapp extended much gratitude to his students and their amazing accompanist Jasmine Hatem, UST adjunct professor of piano, coordinator keyboard, and director of the University’s music preparatory program.

Knapp said, “These student singers have demonstrated unflappable dedication and willingness to go the extra mile for excellence, even during a pandemic. The singers were selected by faculty for this collegiate singing competition because of high standards, consistent work ethic, artistry and weekly discipline in the voice studio. Truly, virtual singing for any competition is twice the work of an in-person performance. Bravo to professor Hatem and our singers!”