MSU Department of Music again succeeds at NATS competition

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University made a big mark during the state’s National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition recently held in Hattiesburg.

Six MSU singers walked away with awards ranging from first to third place.

Winners and placements from Mississippi State participants include:

Leah Boyd – 1st place, Freshman Women

Ashlyn Jeffries – 1st place, Lower College Musical Theatre Women

JJ Haight – 3rd place, Upper College Musical Theatre Men

Trevor Blood – 1st place, Sophomore Men

Jeonai Batista – 2nd place, Older Advanced Men

James Ellis Rustenhaven – 3rd place, Junior Men

Barry Kopetz, department of Music head said that this was another great year for students representing the department, and that in addition to the winners, “nearly all of our other students were recognized as semifinalists.”

Students from across the Magnolia state representing various colleges competed in the competition, as NATS of Mississippi is a part of the Southern Region of NATS organization.

For more information about the competition, contact the department of Music at 662-325-3070.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.