On Saturday, November 8, 2025, eleven singers and two pianists proudly represented Roberts Wesleyan University at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) 2025 District Auditions.
The annual event, hosted this year by Ithaca College, brought together more than 125 vocalists competing across several individual categories, along with 25 faculty adjudicators from leading institutions including Eastman, Fredonia, Ithaca, Binghamton, Crane, Hamilton, Houghton, Buffalo, and other colleges and universities across Upstate New York.
Roberts Wesleyan students made an outstanding showing at the competition, with five advancing to the finals and three receiving honorable mentions for their performances.
Winners
First Place: Emily Sylvester ’24, Esther Knappenberger ’27, Jackson Oliver ’27, Anna Brewer ’29
Third Place: Victoria Heffner ’26
Honorable Mentions:
- Logan Smith ’26
- Qasim Huzair ’27
- Sophia Walter ’28
In addition, Emmaline Verratti ’27, Naomi Raphael ’26, and Jonathan Douglass ’28 earned high marks and exceptional feedback from the judges.
All Roberts participants are students of Professor Constance Fee and Dr. Jeffery McGhee, and were accompanied by pianists Zach Richard ’26 and recently retired Professor Julie Runion, whose expert collaboration contributed to the singers’ success.
Congratulations to all of our talented student performers for their artistry and hard work representing Roberts Wesleyan University with excellence!
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About the author
Roberts Wesleyan University
As a community of learners committed to historic Christianity, Roberts Wesleyan University seeks to prepare thoughtful, spiritually mature, service-oriented people who will help transform society.
We are a private Christian university in Rochester, New York, offering over 80 undergraduate and graduate programs.
As the only NCAA Division II institution in the region and member of the East Coast Conference, Roberts is committed to academic excellence, spiritual formation, and competitive athletics.