Classical Auditions

Texoma NATS 2025 Classical Auditions 

Registration Summary & Essential Information 

The Texoma NATS 2025 Fall Classical Auditions at Baylor (Nov 5–8) feature student competitions in high school through adult divisions, guest performances, poster sessions, and special awards. Registration runs Sept 15–Oct 10 via AuditionWare. Strict rules apply regarding repertoire, teacher attendance, and eligibility. Awards include cash prizes, scholarships, and special recognitions. 

Conference Overview

Dates: Wednesday, November 5 – Saturday, November 8, 2025 

Location: Baylor University, Waco, TX 

What: National Student Auditions (NSA) Fall Classical Auditions (High School, Post High School, Advanced, Adult, and Hall Johnson Spirituals categories) 

Guest Artists:  Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano; Myra Huang, collaborative pianist 

Special Events:  

• Baylor Opera performance of Notes on Viardot (Michael Ching) 

• Texoma Artist Series and Texoma Poster Presentations 

• Two Master Classes with Sasha Cooke and Darryl Taylor 

Registration Information & Deadlines (Central Time) 

• Sept 11, 7 PM: Zoom Informational Meeting. https://forms.gle/uy7UtmXtWDhBpTck9 

• Sept 15, 9 AM: Registration opens 

• Oct 10, 4 PM: Registration closes (all repertoire/fees must be finalized) 

Registration Platform: AuditionWare (through NATS.org → Member Home). 
Reminder: Repertoire submitted at regional auditions carries through to Nationals. 

Registration Fees 

• Conference Registration (NATS member w/ students): $60 

• HS-only members: $20 

• NATS member w/o students: $50 

• Student entry fee: $25 

• Hall Johnson Spiritual Competition entry: $25 (or $10 if also in a CL category) 

• Pianist change: $10 

• Tickets: Recital $20, Opera $15, Meal vouchers $11/meal + $5 card 

Refunds: No refunds after registration closes. 
Substitutions: No studio substitutions permitted.

Student & Teacher Limits 

Per Teacher: 

• 8 students (Post High School/Adult/Advanced divisions, CL 5–14)  

AND 

• 6 students (Hall Johnson Spiritual Competition, HJ 7) 

AND 

• Unlimited High School students (CL 3–4) 

Collaborative Pianists: Limited to 10 students total.

Eligibility & Participation

Teacher Attendance: Required for students to compete. 

• Judges’ Meeting: Thursday, Nov 6, 8:30 AM (Post High School/adult divisions). 

• HS-only teachers: Saturday, Nov 8, 8:15 AM. 

• Exceptions: Only for life-threatening or emergency medical reasons. 

Student Requirements: 

• Teacher must be Texoma NATS member in good standing. 

• Must meet classification rules (age, study level, category). 

• Disclosure required if student has multiple or former voice teachers. 

• Previous Winners: May not re-enter the same category, with limited exceptions. 

Minor Students:  

• Participant email and contact number must be the parent or guardian. You cannot submit contact details for minor students. 

• Teachers must submit chaperone documentation by Oct 27. Teachers cannot serve as chaperones.

Categories & Repertoire

• New 2025 Requirement: All repertoire must be contrasting by composer, tempo, and text. 

General Rules: 

• At least one art song in English (original text). 

• Additional foreign-language art songs/arias required depending on category. 

• Higher categories (CL 7–10) require representation of at least three languages. 

• Memorization required except for Oratorio/Cantata/Mass/Requiem arias. 

• Only legal published transpositions permitted. 

• High School / Lower Post High School (CL 3–4): 3 selections: English art song, foreign-language art song, and choice. 

• Lower Post High School (CL 5-6): 3 selections: English art song, foreign-language art song, and choice. 

• Upper Post High School (CL 7–8): 4 selections: English art song, foreign-language art song, aria, plus one additional selection. At least 3 languages required.  

• Advanced (CL 9–10): 5 selections: English art song, foreign-language art song, operatic aria, oratorio aria, plus one additional. At least 3 languages required. 

• Adult Avocational (CL 11–12): 3 selections: English art song, foreign-language art song, and choice. 

• Non-Traditional (CL 13–14): 3 selections: English art song, foreign-language art song, and choice. 

• Hall Johnson Spiritual (HJ 7): Repertoire limited to selections listed at the NATS website HJSC Repertoire List: https://www.nats.org/Hall_Johnson_Spirituals_Competition.html   

Links: 

• Informational Zoom Session – request the link: https://forms.gle/uy7UtmXtWDhBpTck9 

• Texoma NATS Website: https://texomanats.org/regional-conference  

• Texoma NATS Member Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BG3PFju7U/  

• NATS National Student Auditions: https://www.nats.org/national_student_auditions.html 

• NSA Categories of Entry: https://www.nats.org/_Library/NSA_Files/2025-26_NSA_Categories_of_Entry.pdf 

• NSA Pre-Registration Form: https://www.nats.org/_Library/2023_24_NSA_Docs/Student_Pre-Registration_Form_9-5-23.pdf  

• NSA Rubrics: https://www.nats.org/_Library/2023_24_NSA_Docs/All_NSA_Rubrics_2023-24.pdf  

• NATS Copyright Resources: https://www.nats.org/Copyright_Resources.html  

• Roberta Stephens NSA Scholarship criteria and requirements: https://www.nats.org/Roberta_Stephen_Scholarship.html 

• Ginsburg Repertoire NSA Prize criteria and requirements: https://www.nats.org/ginsburg.html 

Contact Information 

• Texoma Student Auditions (all other): Casey L. Carter – ccarter@collin.edu 

• Repertoire Questions: Emily Howes Heilman – emily.c.howes@gmail.com 

• AuditionWare Questions: Stephanie Beinlich – stephanie.beinlich@gmail.com 

• Conference Site: Deborah Williamson (Baylor) – deborah_williamson@baylor.edu 

• NATS Artist Award: Daniel Hunter-Holly – Daniel.hunterholly@utrgv.edu  

Fall 2024 Texoma Classical Winners and Finalists

Announcing the Winners of CL 3A Category – Lower High School Treble

• 1st Place
  Performer: Ella Maliszewski
  Teacher: Catherine McDaniel
• 2nd Place
  Performer: Alexis Roy
  Teacher: Debra Greschner

Announcing the Winners of CL 3B Category – Upper High School Treble

• 1st Place
  Performer: Emma Vogelsand
  Teacher: Christopher Michel
• 2nd Place
  Performer: Grace Torgerson
  Teacher: Jenny Ohrstrum
• 3rd Place
  Performer: Claudia Salazar
  Teacher: Deborah Dalton
• 4th Place (Tie)
  Performer: Katelyn Koppie
  Teacher: Amanda Ronquillo
  Previous Teacher: Dana Guidroz
• 4th Place (Tie)
  Performer: Ella Theurer
  Teacher: Christopher Michel

Announcing the Winners of CL 4A Category – Lower High School TBB

• 1st Place
  Performer: Adan Franco
  Teacher: Debra Greschner
• 2nd Place
  Performer: Jayden Brown
  Teacher: Debra Greschner

Announcing the Winners of CL 4B Category – Upper High School TBB

• 1st Place
  Performer: Jonathan Simon
  Teacher: Abigail Pena
  Previous Teacher: Stephen Maus
• 2nd Place
  Performer: James Mitchell
  Teacher: Amanda Ronquillo
  Previous Teacher: Dana Guidroz
• 3rd Place
  Performer: Daniel Abellar-Neilson
  Teacher: Christopher Michel
• 4th Place
  Performer: Creighton Garcia
  Teacher: Dana Guidroz
• Finalist
  Performer: Michael Yu
  Teacher: Yixuan Han
  Supplemental Teacher: Shengjie Liu

Announcing the Winners of CL 5A Category – 1st Year Post HS Treble

• 1st Place
  Performer: Casey Caldwell
  Teacher: Gwendolyn Alfred
  Previous Teacher: Natalie Cummings
• 2nd Place
  Performer: Kira Hurley
  Teacher: Jamie Van Eyck
  Previous Teacher: Ashley Townsley
• 3rd Place (Tie)
  Performer: Arianna Cantu
  Teacher: Dana Guidroz
  Previous Teacher: Cesar Galaviz
• 3rd Place (Tie)
  Performer: April Acevedo
  Teacher: Rebecca Renfro
  Previous Teacher: Mark Swindler
• 5th Place
  Performer: Naomi Vinson
  Teacher: Jamie Van Eyck
  Previous Teacher: Amy Canchola
• Finalists
  Performer: Kimberly Coe
  Teacher: Twyla Robinson
  Previous Teacher: Melody Rich
  Performer: Jacqueline Lucas
  Teacher: Nita Hudson
  Performer: Saniya Menzies
  Teacher: Christopher Michel
  Previous Teacher: Anne Guess
  Performer: Diane Shim
  Teacher: Lily Guerrero
  Previous Teacher: Hildy Shanks
  Performer: Alyssa Wilson
  Teacher: Gregory Brookes
  Previous Teacher: Rebecca Hays

Announcing the Winners of CL 6A – 1st Year Post HS TBB

• 1st Place (Tie):
  Performer: Gabriel Banda
  Teacher: David Sadlier
• 1st Place (Tie):
  Performer: Michael Banda
  Teacher: David Sadlier
• 3rd Place:
  Performer: Hunter Henne
  Teacher: Jessica Spafford
• 4th Place:
  Performer: Hobed Saravia
  Teacher: Scott LaGraff
  Previous Teacher: Annette Pappas
• 5th Place:
  Performer: Jack McCorquodale
  Teacher: Richard Berry
  Previous Teacher: Terry Morris

Announcing the Winners of CL 5B – 2nd Year Post HS Treble

• 1st Place:
  Performer: Stephanie Lopez
  Teacher: Barbara Hill Moore
• 2nd Place:
  Performer: Maya Wilson
  Teacher: Mikhail Smigelski
• 3rd Place:
  Performer: Sarah Squires
  Teacher: James Rodriguez
• 4th Place:
  Performer: Alexandra Pierce
  Teacher: Rebecca Renfro
• 5th Place:
  Performer: Celia Mellett
  Teacher: Rachel Elizabeth Watkins

Announcing the Winners of CL 6B – 2nd Year Post HS TBB

• 1st Place:
  Performer: Kai Diamond
  Teacher: James Rodriguez
• 2nd Place:
  Performer: Nicholas Pappas
  Teacher: David Kirkwood
• 3rd Place (Tie):
  Performer: Micah Espree
  Teacher: Kimberly Monzon
• 3rd Place (Tie):
  Performer: Alessandro Gucciardi
  Teacher:  Catherine McDaniel
• 5th Place:
  Performer: Michael Reyes
  Teacher: Crystal Jarrell Johnson

Announcing the Winners of CL 7A – 3rd Year Post HS Treble

• 1st Place:
  Performer: Poppy Teague
  Teacher: Paul Piersall Jr
• 2nd Place:
  Performer: Maria St. Clair
  Teacher: Daveda Karanas
• 3rd Place:
  Performer: Alexia Rivera
  Teacher: Jamie Van Eyck
• 4th Place:
  Performer: Andie Earl
  Teacher: Barbara Hill Moore
• 5th Place:
  Performer: Sahara Seifried
  Teacher: Catherine McDaniel
• Finalists:
  Performer: Nalani Defensor
  Teacher: Jamie Van Eyck
  Performer: Jun Gomez
  Teacher: Leanne Scaggs
  Performer: Halle Lambert
  Teacher: Nita Hudson
  Performer: Monica Malas
  Teacher: Mark Diamond
  Performer: Kristen Salinas
  Teacher: Daniel Hunter-Holly
  Performer: Ella Selden
  Teacher: Morgan Manifacier
  Performer: Aubrey Turner
  Teacher: Scott LaGraff

Announcing the Winners of CL 8A – 3rd Year Post HS TBB

• 1st Place:
  Performer: Blayne Stonecipher
  Teacher: Robert Best
• 2nd Place:
  Performer: Joseph Gonzalez
  Teacher: Eric Stoklossa
• 3rd Place:
  Performer: Corbin Gray
  Teacher: Paul Piersall Jr
• 4th Place:
  Performer: Patricio Izaguirre
  Teacher: Bradley Naylor
• 5th Place:
  Performer: Joshua McMiller II
  Teacher: Samantha Balboa
  Previous Teacher: Richard Novak II

Announcing the Winners of CL 7B – 4th/5th Years Post HS Treble

• 1st Place:
  Performer: Emily Pace
  Teacher: Robert Best
• 2nd Place:
  Performer: Jocelyn Barnes
  Teacher: Scott LaGraff
• 3rd Place:
  Performer: Katarina Cashon
  Teacher: Jeffrey Tarr
• 4th Place:
  Performer: Katelyn Segarra
  Teacher: Suzanne Ramo
• 5th Place:
  Performer: Antonio Ballesteros
  Teacher: Rebecca Coberly

Announcing the Winners of CL 8B- 4th/5th Years Post HS TBB

• 1st Place:
  Performer: Elisandro Reza
  Teacher: Stephanie Beinlich
• 2nd Place:
  Performer: James Silva
  Teacher: Christopher Michel
• 3rd Place:
  Performer: Jacob Vasquez
  Teacher: Patrick McNally
  Previous Teacher: Brock Johnson
• 4th Place (Tie):
  Performer: Jack Cozad
  Teacher: Alice Anne Light
• 4th Place (Tie):
  Performer:  Chris Markgraf
  Teacher: Gregory Brookes
  Previous Teacher: Rebecca Hays

Announcing the Winners of CL 9 – Advanced Classical Treble

• 1st Place:
  Performer: Sarah Martinez
  Teacher: Mark Diamond
• 2nd Place:
  Performer: Taylor Hendricks
  Teacher: Barbara Hill Moore
  Previous Teacher: Rebecca Renfro
• 3rd Place:
  Performer: Sylvia Jones
  Teacher: Kimberly Monzon
• 4th Place:
  Performer: Rachel Gilliam
  Teacher: Lorraine Ernest
• 5th Place:
  Performer: Olivia Currier
  Teacher: Robert Best
• Finalist:
  Performer: Madilynn McConnell
  Teacher: Debbie Berry
  Previous Teacher: Jeffrey Picon

Announcing the Winners of CL 10 – Advanced Classical TBB

• 1st Place:
  Performer: J’Von Brown
  Teacher: Barbara Hill Moore
• 1st Place (tie):
  Performer:  Dylan Ramirez
  Teacher:  Jourdan Howell
• 3rd Place:
  Performer: Lwazi Dlamini
  Teacher: Barbara Hill Moore
  Previous Teacher: Brad Liebl
• 4th Place:
  Performer: Ethan Fasnacht
  Teacher: Gregory Brookes
• 5th Place:
  Performer: Qizheng Wu
  Teacher: Twyla Robinson
  Previous Teacher: San-ky Kim

Announcing the Winners of  CL 11/12 – Adult Avocational All Voices

• 1st Place:
  Performer: Jui Fang Chai
  Teacher: Frances Fenton
• 2nd Place:
  Performer: Charles Walpole
  Teacher: Casey Carter
• 3rd Place:
  Performer: Megan Kennedy Shedden
  Teacher: Frances Fenton

Announcing the Winners of CL 13/14 – Non-Traditional Student All
Voices

• 1st Place:
  Performer: Francisco Rendon
  Teacher: Eric Stoklossa
• 2nd Place:
  Performer: Ziyan Hu
  Teacher: Gregory Brookes
  Previous Teacher: Karisa Templeton
• 3rd Place:
  Performer: Akosua Adwini-Poku
  Teacher: Barbara Hill Moore
• 4th Place (Tie):
  Performer: Kelly Comer
  Teacher:  Edgar Sierra
• 4th Place (Tie):
  Performer:  Kenzie Heaney
  Teacher:  Lorraine Ernest

Announcing the Winners of AS 7 – Intermediate American Negro
Spiritual All Voices

• 1st Place (Tie):
  Performer: Monica Malas
  Teacher: Mark Diamond
• 1st Place (Tie):
  Performer:  Poppy Teague
  Teacher:  Paul Piersall Jr
• 3rd Place:
  Performer: Mason Asberry
  Teacher: Myra Vassian
• 4th Place:
  Performer: Lailah Johnson
  Teacher: Catherine McDaniel
• 5th Place:
  Performer: Micah Espree
  Teacher: Kimberly Monzon
• Finalist:
  Performer: Bria Suggs
  Teacher: Samuel Cook

Announcing the Winners of AS 9 – Advanced American Negro Spiritual
All Voices

• 1st Place:
  Performer: Sylvia Jones
  Teacher: Kimberly Monzon
• 2nd Place:
  Performer: Dylan Ramirez
  Teacher: Jourdan Howell
• 3rd Place:
  Performer: Karla Clemens
  Teacher: Melinda Brou
• 4th Place:
  Performer: Deja Godwin
  Teacher: Melinda Brou
  Previous Teacher: Jeremy Blackwood

Announcing the Winners of LIEDERKRANZ Award

• Winner:
  Performer: Lwazi Dlamini
  Teacher: Barbara Hill Moore
  Previous Teacher: Brad Liebl

Announcing the Winners of the Barbara Hill Moore Award for the Best
Performance of an Art Song Composed by a Woman of Color Award

• 1st Place:
  Performer: Elisandro Reza
  Teacher: Stephanie Beinlich
• 2nd Place:
  Performer: Jared Kellman-Medina
  Teacher: Crystal Jarrell Johnson
• 3rd Place:
  Performer: Jocelyn Barnes
  Teacher: Scott LaGraff
• Finalists:
  Performers: Katelyn Segarra, Riley Glaesmann
  Teacher: Suzanne Ramo, Christopher Michel

Announcing the Winner of the GRADY HARLAN AWARD

• Winner:
  Performer: Emily Pace
  Teacher: Robert Best