Grand Valley hosts NATS auditions, garners awards

Music students from Grand Valley scooped up many of the top awards at the National Association of Teachers Singing Great Lakes Region competition, which includes students from Ontario, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. More than 200 singers, voice teachers, pianists, and friends participated and attended the event hosted by Grand Valley on March 3.

Grand Valley students who won awards are:

Gabriel Reitemeier – first place freshman men
Katie Tamayo – honorable mention sophomore women
Andrea Fleming – second place senior women
Grayson Barton – second place senior men
Caitlin Cusack – first place college women music theater
Danielle Gross – second place college women music theater
Anthony LaJoye – second place college men music theater

In addition, Gabriel Reitemeier, a freshman from Rockford, received the “Jon Vickers” most promising undergraduate (first and second year) award by popular vote, and Caitlin Cusack, a sophomore from Ionia, received the “Most Promising in Music Theatre” award (for all high school and college).

Principal cast members from the Grand Valley Opera Theatre’s recent production of “The Light in the Piazza” performed excerpts showcasing their talent to all assembled.