Musical Theatre student wins first place at NATS national conference
Ezra DeVane, a student in the Musical Theatre Certificate program, received first place in the Contemporary Commercial Music category at the National Association of Teachers of Singing National Student Auditions. The auditions took place at the 59th NATS national conference, held in San Antonio, Texas, July 3-7.
DeVane, who studies voice with Associate Professor of Voice Sequina DuBose, also won second place in the national auditions for the Musical Theatre category. A public health major, he has performed prominent roles in College of Arts + Architecture musical theatre productions, including “Legally Blonde” and “Cabaret.” (The Musical Theatre Certificate program is open to all majors.)
“Ezra is everything you hope for in a student: hardworking, curious, humble and exceptionally coachable,” said DuBose in a social media post. “What stood out most was watching him encourage classmates, cheer on competitors and network with genuine kindness.”
For the national auditions, DeVane performed six songs – three in each category. His rendition of “Jealous” by the British-Jamaican artist Labrinth earned him the Contemporary Commercial Music top prize.
“I truly enjoyed the experience of going to San Antonio and participating in NATS,” DeVane said. “I got to meet and network with many students and professionals while there. There were many talented students, and to hear everyone’s voice, stories, as well as their plans for the future, was very inspiring. It was a great feeling to use the skills I work on in the classroom in a real world setting, for sure, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to represent Charlotte on a national stage!”
Three UNC Charlotte music students also advanced through state and regional NATS competitions to represent the University as national semifinalists: vocal performance major Brooke Smith in the Classical category and vocal performance and musical theatre certificate students Reem Nour and Jylian Taylor in the Musical Theatre category. Semifinalists represent the top 15 performers in their age and training level from nearly 1,200 national preliminary entries.
All three students study voice with Instructor Christina Pier.
“Over the course of the year, these students repeatedly rose to the occasion, honing their skills and refining their artistry for each tier of the competition,” said Pier. “Watching them thrive at the national level was thrilling. Their commitment to excellence, camaraderie and genuine celebration of each other’s milestones beautifully reflected the spirit of our department.”
Funded by the College of Arts + Architecture, the four students were accompanied in San Antonio by DuBose, Pier and Assistant Professor of Voice Susan Gouthro, who performed with Associate Professor of Dance Kaustavi Sarkar at the conference.
Founded in 1944, NATS is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world, with more than 7,000 members in the United States, Canada and more than 35 other countries.
By Meg Whalen
Pictured top: Ezra Devane and Mimi Mollins in the College of Arts + Architecture production of “Cabaret.” Photo by Kat Lawrence.