Carey Senior Wins State NATS Governors' Award
Ben Salters of Ocean Springs, a senior music performance major at William Carey University, recently won the Governors' Award given by the Mississippi chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Salters also won the top prize in his division, senior men, during the chapter's annual meeting at the University of Southern Mississippi from March 20-21.
The Governors' Award is given by the current state governor and past state governors of the chapter. The governors assess the performances of the division first place winners. The award is only given in years when the governors hear a student exhibiting strong potential for a professional career in performance.
During the competition, Salters performed an aria from ";The Barber of Seville"; by Gioachino Rossini. He was accompanied by Brian Murphy, an adjunct instructor of piano at Carey, and was under the direction of Dr. Connie Roberts, professor of music.
";Competitors at the conference range from high school students all the way to doctoral candidates ... usually, a more advanced singer wins the Governors' Award,"; said Dr. Roberts. ";This particular Governors' Award is quite a prestigious prize as Ben is still an undergraduate student singer.";
In addition to his studies, Salters is also involved with the Winters School of Music and Ministry's onstage productions, including the recent performance of ";The Magic Flute."; Salters is a theatre minor and has also been active in Carey Theatre's regular theatre schedule as well as Carey Dinner Theatre in the summer.