School of Music student named "Singer of the Year"

Released: November 16, 2010

Lincoln, Neb. - The University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Music had 30 finalists, as well as Singer of the Year honors at the 2010 West Central Regional National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Vocal Auditions Nov. 4-6 at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo.

Cami Philgreen, a Bachelor of Music senior from Manchester, Iowa, received 2010 Singer of the Year special honors. She was selected from the 29 upper level finalists. Philgreen is a student of Senior Lecturer Alisa Belflower, the coordinator of UNL's Musical Theatre Studies.

"Cami is a phenomenally talented young woman," Belflower said. "She lights up the stage with her sparkling personality and charismatic energy. She employs a unique brand of fearlessness in creating an art that audiences devour. There is every reason to believe Cami has a bright future."

In total, UNL had 30 finalists at the auditions, the most of any other participating school, along with 27 semi-finalists. More than 429 students representing 25 colleges and universities in the region competed in the auditions.

• 18 of the 40 undergraduate awards presented for classical vocal performance.
• Four of eight first place awards for undergraduate classical singing.
• 12 of 20 musical theatre awards presented.
• And all five first place awards presented for musical theatre performance.

"These students have enhanced UNL's reputation and given us all reasons to be proud of what they have accomplished," Belflower said.

The NATS was founded in 1944 and is now the largest association of teachers of singing in the world. The West Central Region includes Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming.