Two of 网曝吃瓜鈥檚 (KSU) very own won first place in their respective categories at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Mid-South Region Student Auditions competition on March 28 鈥� 29, 2025.
Four students of Assistant Professor of Voice, Dr. Bryan Bolzenthal, participated at the Kentucky-Tennessee district competition which welcomed over 200 singers from the region to compete in 14 categories.
Zania Tutwiler won first place in category 7 - upper undergraduate women, music theater and Marcus Wilkerson won first place in category 14 - upper division men, classical.
Tutwiler, a recent music major graduate from KSU, said, 鈥淚 love [that I graduated as a music major from KSU]. I think we are often looked at as underdogs, but I think the talent we have is absolutely phenomenal, especially over the past few years. It makes me feel good that I can go out and show that.鈥�
鈥淸Winning] affirms all of my hard work and hardship that got me to this point. It was encouraging on a number of fronts, but, for the most part, it really solidified that I have a voice worthy of someone to hear,鈥� said Wilkerson.
Both students Genesis Hatchett and Essence Kimbrough also advanced to the semifinals in category 5 鈥� lower undergraduate women, classical.
鈥淚 gained confidence from [this experience]. At first, I was afraid to sing in front of professional singers, but now I know that I can sing in front of anyone with confidence,鈥� said Kimbrough.
鈥淓ven though [Essence and I] did not win first place, it was just nice to see how far we鈥檝e come and to listen to where we started鈥�,鈥� said Hatchett.
鈥淚 could not be prouder of these singers, and it is a testament to the amount of talent that we have in the music department. These students are future professional singers and teachers in our communities,鈥� said Dr. Bolzenthal.