Three Tabor College students won their divisions and four were named finalists at the West Central NATS Competition at Wichita State University on Nov. 8-9.
Betsy George (Grad., Omaha, Neb.), Aden Frederick (JR, Scott City, Kan.), and London Eichelberger (SR, Higginsville, Mo.) each placed first, while Hannah Thurston (SO, Marion, Kan.) finished sixth after reaching the finals. Ten students attended the competition and nine reached the semifinals.
Students from Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming colleges participated. Other KCAC colleges were Kansas Wesleyan, Friends, and Bethel. Other participants included, but were not limited to, the University of Nebraska and Nebraska-Omaha, Kansas State, and Northern Colorado.
Eichelberger (upper college), George (adult), and Thurston (lower college) placed in Musical Theatre. It is the second straight year Tabor has had three students reach the finals with George reaching both years.
“These finishes speak to the fact that we have tremendous students in our department, and I’m very grateful for the work they put toward excelling in their performances,” said Dr. Gregory Zielke, director of choirs. “It is very significant to have this level of exposure in our field and we can use this as a tremendous recruiting tool in recruiting top-quality students.”
Having not made it past the preliminaries in her previous two trips to NATS, Eichelberger said she took it as an opportunity to prepare for her senior recital. The relaxed approach paid major dividends.
“I stood on stage with the other four finalists and was ready to hear my name for fifth place,” Eichelberger said. “Fourth and third went by and I could see all my Tabor people clutching each other waiting to hear second place. When they called it and it wasn’t my name, I tried hard not to cry. They called my name for first place and I felt so proud of my Tabor family. All the love and support made this even more special.”
Tabor’s other participants included Shay Sullivan (JR, Bixby, Okla.), Atiera Langenberg (SO, Wichita, Kan.), Lexi Milne (JR, Inman, Kan.), Kamryn Gooch (SO, Hillsboro, Kan.), Viggo Shafer (JR, Andover, Kan.), and Emma Hubert (FR, Belleville, Kan.).
George said reliving the Nov. 9 awards ceremony still feels surreal, recalling the joy of winning at such a prestigious event.
“The sense of camaraderie and support among all of Tabor’s performers was truly inspiring and made the experience even more rewarding,” George said. “Dr. Zielke and (accompanist) Jennifer Epp pushed me to do my very best and it’s been such a privilege working with all of the professors and instructors during my time at Tabor.”