Student Success

WMU vocal graduate Alexandria Shiner (BM '14) performs at the fabulous Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia.

“Soprano Alexandria Shiner, currently a Carfitz Young Artist with Washington National Opera, was the most polished of the winners, with a plush voice suited well for Wagner or Strauss. She eased through “Dich, teure Halle” from Tannhäuser, but it wasn’t until her second aria — “To This We’ve Come” from Menotti’s “The Consul” — that her star quality emerged. Her voice is plush and was among the highlights of the afternoon...” Arya Roshanian, Operawire, March 3, 2020

Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition Grand Finals

Each year, Western Michigan University vocal students earn accolades in local, national and international performances, competitions, and summer programs. Some of these recognitions are listed below.

2019

AIMS (American Institute of Musical Studies) 39th Annual Meistersinger Competition, Graz Austria

• Travis Williams, 2nd place (Rehearsal video in Graz, Austria)

Great Lakes Regional NATS Competition, Western Michigan University

• Hayley Girard, 3rd place (Graduate Women)
• Travis Williams, 2nd place (Junior Men) (YouTube video at NATS)
• Brooke Leinbaugh (Freshmen Women)

Michigan NATS State Competition, Hope College

• Emily Hoekstra, 1st place (1st Year Classical Treble)
• Hannah Elandt, 3rd place (1st Year Classical Treble)
• Brooke Leinbaugh, 1st place (2nd Year Classical Treble)
• Katie Short, 3rd place tie (4th/5th Year Classical Treble)
• Margaret Mooney, 3rd place tie (4th/5th Year Classical Treble) (YouTube Video of Margaret)
• Travis Williams, 1st place (Upper Classical TBB) ( YouVideo of Travis)

2018

National NATS Competition Finals, Las Vegas, NV

• Travis Williams, finalist

Michigan NATS State Competition, Eastern Michigan University

• Travis Williams, 1st place (Junior Men)
• Ashton Watkins, 2nd place (Freshmen Men)
• Hayley Girard, 2nd place (Senior Women)
• Isaac James, 3rd place (Senior Men)

Great Lakes Regional NATS Competition, Michigan State University

• Isaac James, 1st place (Senior Men)
• Travis Williams, 1st place (Sophomore Men)
• Hayley Girard, 1st place (Senior Women)
• Camille Booth, 2nd place (Freshmen Women)
• Alexandra Galla, 3rd place (Senior Women)
• Isaac James, Jessye Norman Award for Most Promising Senior
• Travis Williams, Jon Vickers Award for Most Promising Senior

Opera Grand Rapids 14th Annual Collegiate Competition

• Alexandra Galla, 1st place (Division I)
• Travis Williams, 1st place (Division II)
• Isaac James, 3rd place (Division I)

Bach Festival 17th Annual Young Vocalists Competition

• Hayley Girard, 1st place
• Travis Williams, Honorable Mention
• Isaac James, Honorable Mention

 2017

Michigan NATS State Competition, Western Michigan University

• Evan Crowe, 1st place (Freshmen Men)
• Travis Williams, 1st place (Sophomore Men)
• Camille Booth, 2nd place (Freshmen Women)
• Savannah Gonsoulin, 2nd place (Senior Women)
• Isaac James, 2nd place (Upper College Men)
• Katie Short, 3rd place (Sophomore Women)
• Cara Gross, 3rd place (Senior Women)
• Mick Jutila, 3rd place (Upper College Men)

Bach Festival 17th Annual Young Vocalists Competition

Alexandra Galla, Honorable Mention

2016

Michigan NATS State Competition, University of Michigan

• Caitlin Borke, 1st place (Sophomore Women)
• Alexandra Galla, 1st place (Junior Women)
• Hayley Girard, 1st place (Junior Women II)
• Savannah Gonsoulin, 1st place (Senior Women)
• Natalie Saigh, 2nd place (Freshmen Women)
• Annika Ey, 3rd place (Senior Women)
• Cara Gross, 3rd place (Senior Women)

Opera Grand Rapids Collegiate Competition

• Natalie Saigh, 1st place (Division II)
• Alexandra Galla, 2nd place (Division I)
• Alexandra Galla, Founders Award

Bach Festival of Kalamazoo Young Vocalists Competition

• Hayley Girard, 3rd place
• Cara Gross and Caitlin Borke, Honorable Mention

2015

Great Lakes Regional NATS Competition, Anderson University (IN)

• Bridget Cappel, 1st place (Division 10-A)
• Marlyre Thompson, 3rd place (Division 10-A)

Michigan NATS State Competition, Calvin College

• Savannah Gonsoulin, 2nd place (Division II-A)
• Alexandra Galla, 2nd place (Division 7 B-I)
• Hayley Girard, 3rd place (Division 7 B-2)
• Merrin Bethel, 3rd place (Division 7 B-1)
• Cara Gross, 3rd place (Division 7 B-1)
• Melanie Walker, 3rd place (Division II)
• Holli Slamka, Honorable Mention (Division 7-A)

Opera Grand Rapids Collegiate Competition

• Caitlin Borke, 1st place (Division II)

Bach Festival of Kalamazoo, Young Vocalists Competition

• Bridget Cappel, 1st place

2014

Orpheus National Music Competition

• Giles Simmer, semifinalist 

Great Lakes Regional NATS Competition, Western Michigan University

• Bridget Cappel, 1st place (Division 4B)
• Chelsea Helm, 1st place (Division 10)
• Danae Picklo, 2nd place (Division 8)
• Giles Simmer, 2nd place (Division 13)
• Renee Macdonald, 3rd place (Division 8)

Michigan NATS State Competition, Michigan State University

• Hayley Girard, 3rd place (Division 2-1)
• Melanie Walker, 3rd place (Division 8-1)
• Bridget Cappel, 3rd place (Division 10-2)

Nicholas Loren Vocal Competition

• Giles Simmer, semifinalist

William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition

• Giles Simmer, semifinalist

Graduate Award for Excellence in Teaching, Western Michigan University

• Giles Simmer, honorable mention

2013

 ÓperaMaya--Papaya Playa Project Competition

• Giles Simmer, 3rd place (Summer programs)

Michigan NATS State Competition, Eastern Michigan University

• Giles Simmer, 1st place (Division 13)
• Garrett Gagnon, 2nd place (Division 3)
• Melanie Walker, 2nd place (Division 4-2)
• Bridget Cappel, 2nd place (Division 8-2)
• Renee Macdonald, 3rd place (Division 10)
• Karina Stribley, 3rd place (Division 2-2)

Grand Rapids Collegiate Opera Competition

• Chelsea Helm, First Place Winner (Division 1) (YouTube video of Chelsea)

WMU Concerto Competition

• Giles Simmer, Winner

2012

Michigan NATS State Competition, Grand Valley State University

• Danae Picklo, 1st place (Division 4-2, Second Year College Women)
• Bridget Cappel, 1st place (Division 4-2, Second Year College Women)
• Chelsea Helm, 1st place (Division 10, Fourth Year College Women)
• Tailor Bowen, 2nd place (Division 2-1, First Year College Women)
• Renee Macdonald, 2nd place (Division 8, Third Year College Women)

Harold Haugh Light Opera Competition

• Giles Simmer, Semifinalist