University of St. Thomas – Houston announces wonderful news to sing about: Student singers from UST took five finalist positions and five semi-finalist positions in the recent regional competition by the National Association of Teachers of Singing Greater Houston (GHNATS). The contest, virtual this year, draws heavy talent from one of the country’s largest and most diverse regions. Music major vocalists represented UST, A&M Commerce & Prairie View, Texas Southern University, Sam Houston State University, Lamar University, Houston Baptist University, University of Houston, Houston Community College, Lonestar College, North Harris, San Jacinto Community College and all of the area junior colleges.

St. Thomas’ five finalists:

Advanced graduate women

• Priscilla Salisbury, 1st Place, MSM
• Lauren Henderson Turner, 2nd Place, MSM

Junior collegiate men

• Jeremy Treviño, 1st Place

Junior collegiate women

• Mariana Rodriguez, 2nd Place

Senior collegiate women

• Claire Mullan, 4th Place

St. Thomas’ five semi-finalists:

Junior collegiate men

• Steven Velasquez, Jr.
• Eduardo Katoul Rahbani

Graduate men

• Alan Sandaña Silva

Freshmen collegiate men

• Dann Annsbert Lewis

Senior collegiate men

• Jose Luis Zuniga Aviles

UST Associate Professor and Chair of Music, Dr. Brady Knapp, praised all 12 music major singers who competed, saying, “All are from my UST vocal studio, and all are truly fabulous vocalists. The music faculty and I are very proud of these outstanding students. They represented the University with excellence, poise and tremendous creativity.”

Preparing to compete in the GHNATS event required many extra hours of online rehearsals in the voice studio.

“Bless these extraordinarily gifted students for thriving in this pandemic and giving their best,” Knapp said. “And they were buoyed by their brilliant accompanist, Professor Jasmine Hatem from UST’s piano faculty, who went above and beyond for the students.”

Please join the UST vocal students for two upcoming virtual concert events:

• An Evening of Scenes from Opera & Musical Theater will be broadcast at 7:30 p.m., April 20, from the UST Music Facebook page.
• A virtual Eastertide Lessons & Carols with the University Singers happens at 7:30 p.m., April 27.

For reservations and a link to these end-of-semester virtual concert offerings, write to Cynthia Everett in the UST Music office evertcc@stthom.edu. Or call 713-525-3560. These events are free to the public.