Multiple Hope College singers and an area high school student who studies voice at Hope earned honors in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Michigan State Chapter Auditions, held at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo on Saturday, Nov. 3.
Dane Clark, a senior from Grand Rapids, earned first place in the Musical Theatre category.
Briana Sosenheimer, a sophomore from Fort Wayne, Ind., earned second place in the Second-Year College Women category. Freshmen Sarah Ashcroft of Holland and Lauren Conley of White Lake each earned second place in the First-Year College Women category.
Susan Jolink, a junior from Grandville, earned honorable mention in the Third-Year College Women category.
In addition, Audrey Rink, a junior at Holland Christian High School, earned first place in the 16-and-Under High School Girls Division.
Ashcroft, Clark, Conley, Jolink and Rink all study voice with Linda Dykstra, associate professor of music. Sosenheimer studies voice with Dr. Margaret Kennedy-Dygas, professor of music and chairperson of the department.
All of the students will advance to the regional auditions at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., on Saturday, March 1, competing with other student winners from Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Ontario, Canada.