CHAPEL HILL — Five Catawba College students competed in the regional competition of the National Association of Teachers of Singing on March 17-18 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

One of them, Charlee Beth Haddock of Florence, Alabama, was the first-place winner in musical theater at both the state and regional levels for second-year college women. She sang at the Regional Honors Recital on March 18 with all the first-place winners from various categories. She now will advance to the National Student Auditions.

Haddock had first competed at the state level of the NATS auditions in November before advancing to regional competition.

Although not winners in regional competition, two of the five Catawba students were winners in state competition. They were Caroline Kirk of Matthews, a second-place winner in the state competition for second-year college women in musical theater, and Sara Falso of Irmo, South Carolina, second-place winner in state competition for first year college women in musical theater.

Amery Barton of Salisbury and Claire Raimist of Woodsboro, Maryland, qualified at the state level for regional competition.

These five students study with Caroline Stephenson, a voice faculty member at Catawba. They were accompanied by Susan Trivette, staff accompanist at Catawba.

Stephenson said Charlee Beth Haddock’s first-place finish in second-year college women for musical theater was “quite an honor at the regional event.”

“All five Catawba students received excellent scores and represented the college exceptionally well,” she said.

The regional competition included vocal students from Maryland, Washington, D.C., North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

More information about NATS and the student auditions is at: https://www.nats.org/student-auditions.html.