THE 2016 HAL LEONARD VOCAL COMPETITION WINNERS
Hal Leonard, the world's largest print music publisher and the world leader in vocal music, launched the exciting and innovative concept of a serious music competition for voice students comprised entirely of YouTube video entries. We believe this to be the first legitimate music competition for musicians of various ages, children through college, to be held entirely on the Internet.
The required repertoire was largely drawn from art song and musical theatre literature. The deadline for entry was February 1, 2016.
Judging has been concluded, and we are pleased to announce the art song and musical theatre results in the four age categories of competition. Congratulations to the prize winners! We were encouraged by the commitment and seriousness of purpose shown in the video entries. If these are a representative sampling, there are clearly many dedicated students and teachers at all levels who have embraced our heritage of music literature. We thank all those who entered for confirming that this experimental venture was more than worthwhile. And we also thank the teachers and parents who guided the voice students in this competition. Thank you also to all the accompanists for their key participation.
View the Winning Videos
COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY VOICES, ART SONG - Undergraduates (AGES 18-23)
First Place
CLARA PLESTIS
School: Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University
Voice Teacher: Steve Rainbolt
Second Place
JESSICA NILES
School: The Juilliard School
Voice Teacher: Marlena Malas
Third Place
JULIA GOMEZ
School: Nebraska Wesleyan University
Voice Teacher: Jana Holzmeier
Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically)
NATHAN KESSEL
CLAY MOTE
HIGH SCHOOL VOICES, ART SONG - AGES 16-18
First Place
BENJAMIN WENZELBERG
Location: Tenafly, New Jersey
Voice Teacher: Amelia DeMayo
Second Place (tie)
JOSHUA BERG
Location: Bellevue, Washington
Voice Teacher: Nancy Zylstra
Second Place (tie)
TARYN SURRATT
Location: Houston, Texas
Voice Teacher: Jason Lester
Third Place (tie)
MARIANNE FREEMAN
Location: Lower Burrell, PA
Voice Teacher: Sue Ann Phillips
Third Place (tie)
NIKO MANCERA
Location: Laguna Niguel, California
Voice Teacher: Kathleen Martin
Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically)
SARAH AALDERING
KATE BRODERICK
SAM DHOBHANY
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Watch Video
CLAUDIA GIUGNI
BORIS MOROCHO
MUFFIN RUSSELL
EARLY TEEN VOICES, ART SONG - AGES 13-15
First Place
TYLER BOUQUE
Location: Troy, Michigan
Voice Teacher: Drake Dantzler
Second Place
MADELIN MORALES
Location: Fairfield, New Jersey
Voice Teacher: Jeanai La Vita
Third Place
ALEA VERNON
Location: Cheshire, Connecticut
Voice Teacher: Hilda Harris
Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically)
JAYDA COURNOYER
CARLY GRONINGA
CHILDREN'S VOICES, ART SONG - AGES 12 AND UNDER
First Place
ALIYAH DOUGLAS
Location: Oro Valley, Arizona
Voice Teacher: Stephanie Fox
Second Place (tie)
ISABELLA BANK
Location: Cary, North Carolina
Voice Teacher: Gloria Petrini
Second Place (tie)
DALEYNA DUNLAP
Location: Rolling Hills, California
Voice Teacher: Susan Wong
Third Place (tie)
SANGHOON JUNG
Location: Closter, New Jersey
Voice Teacher: HyeYoung Kang
Third Place (tie)
KAYA KONEVITC
Location: New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
Voice Teacher: Marina Cherepinsky
Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically)
YOUNG ADULT VOICES, MUSICAL THEATRE - Undergraduates (AGES 18-23)
First Place
JACK KAY
School: The Juilliard School
Voice Teacher: Robert White
Second Place
TOBIAS NORDLUND
School: Messiah Collegey
Voice Teacher: Elaine Henderson
Third Place (tie)
ADAM BEI
School: Mesa Community College
Voice Teacher: Nicole Jensen
Third Place (tie)
CLAY MOTE
School: Mercer University
Voice Teacher: Richard Kosowski
Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically)
HIGH SCHOOL VOICES, MUSICAL THEATRE - AGES 16-18
First Place
LEE METAXA
Location: Cedar Park, Texas
Voice Teacher: Michelle Haché
Second Place (tie)
AMANDA CHILDS
Location: McKinney, Texas
Voice Teacher: Peg Waldschmidt
Second Place (tie)
AÏSSA GUINDO
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Voice Teacher: Martina Oslejskova
Third Place (tie)
ASHLEY HIESTER
Location: Atco, New Jersey
Voice Teacher: Melissa Daniels McCann
Third Place (tie)
MILLER KRAPS
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Voice Teacher: Debbie King Raque
Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically)
SARAH AALDERING
MOLLIE DEFILIPPO
JACK JOHNSTON
HOPE KLESSIG
NIKO MANCERA
BORIS MOROCHO
KYLEE SHAFFER
CAMERON VANCE
JESSICA VANEK
MEGAN WILSON
EARLY TEEN VOICES, MUSICAL THEATRE - AGES 13-15
First Place
CHLOE HAYES
Location: Brazil, Indiana
Voice Teacher: Colleen Davis
Second Place (tie)
DALIA MEDOVNIKOV
Location: Woodbridge, Connecticut
Voice Teacher: Andrea Kennedy
Second Place (tie)
MADELIN MORALES
Location: Fairfield, New Jersey
Voice Teacher: Jeanai La Vita
Third Place (tie)
ERIKA HILL
Location: Reno, Nevada
Voice Teacher: Tiffanie Story
Third Place (tie)
NICOLE SUGARMAN
Location: Coral Springs, Florida
Voice Teacher: Melanie Leibner Perkins
Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically)
ELYSE BELL
ANNIE CAHILL
OLIVIA IACONO
CODY KONOP
LEXI MELLOTT
GRACE MOZITIS
BUDDY NOVAK
ZOË STEWART
BRADY TUTTON
CHILDREN'S VOICES, MUSICAL THEATRE - AGES 12 AND UNDER
First Place
ALEXA REEVES
Location: Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Voice Teacher: Melissa Daniels McCann
Second Place (tie)
ARIN SANDIDGE
Location: Bellevue, Washington
Voice Teacher: Larry Bridges
Second Place (tie)
MALIA VARELA
Location: Staten Island, New York
Voice Teacher: G. Mitzanov and A. DeMayo
Third Place
LAUREN SUN
Location: Rye Brook, New York
Voice Teacher: Jeanai La Vita