NWC students earn recognition in singing competition

Four Northwestern College vocal students advanced beyond the opening round of competition at the National Association of Teachers of Singing Lewis and Clark spring auditions, held on April 25 on Northwestern’s campus.

Northwestern’s Nicholas Crippin, a junior biology-health professions major from Storm Lake, Iowa, was one of 22 finalists. He was among only three chosen in the lower college men’s art song division. Crippin is a student of Bryan Van Gelder, a private instructor who also serves as interlibrary loan/curriculum library coordinator at Northwestern.

About 45 semifinalists were selected. Among them, Jessica Decker, a junior public relations major from Rosemount, Minn., and Andrew Stam, a freshman theatre major from Oskaloosa, Iowa, were semifinalists in the art song division. Stam was also a semifinalist in the musical theatre division. They are students of Dr. Linell Gray Moss, lecturer in music.

Sarah Shively, a junior music major from Council Bluffs, Iowa, was the collaborative pianist for all three Northwestern singers.

More than 90 singers participated, ranging in age from high school to adult. Students from Briar Cliff, Buena Vista, Dordt, Morningside, the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Western Iowa Tech Community College also participated in the competition.