Hesston College voice students competed among the best collegiate vocalists in a four-state region at the annual National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) West Central Region Vocal Competition Oct. 30 to 31, at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Twelve students represented Hesston College during the weekend competition with four advancing to the semifinal round.

More than 400 student auditions were part of the competition in classical and musical theatre divisions. Students from colleges and universities of all sizes in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming compete against one another in the same class level and gender.

Hesston students who advanced to the semifinal round were:

• Morgan Leavy, freshman, Freshman/Sophomore Women’s Musical Theatre Division, student of Matt Schloneger
• Anna Martin, sophomore, Harleysville, Pa., Freshman/Sophomore Women’s Musical Theatre Division, student of Holly Swartzendruber
• Emma Roth, sophomore, Goshen, Ind., Sophomore Women’s Classical Division and Freshman/Sophomore Women’s Musical Theatre Division, student of Holly Swartzendruber
• Caleb Schrock-Hurst, sophomore, Harrisonburg, Va., Freshman/Sophomore Men’s Musical Theatre Division, student of Matt Schloneger

Sophomore Eleya Raim, Oxford, Iowa, was selected to sing at one of the convention’s master classes.

Hesston College music faculty member Ken Rodgers and staff member Karen Unruh provided accompaniment for competing students.