Greensboro Performing Arts Shines at 2024 NATS Statewide Competition
Bringing home prizes in three categories and Best Overall High School Treble Voice
Greensboro Performing Arts Musical Director Collin McCrea and his colleague, Amanda Scholz-Edwards entered nine students in the 2024 NATS student awards. All did well and six have been selected from the NC State competition to move on to the next round of the competition, ‘the Regionals’ and one student won the overall prize for Best High School Trebble Voice for North Carolina.
The top prize was awarded to Madison Maas (10th Grade), and the six who are moving on to the regionals are Ash Burgess, Addison Burgess, Ryan Dackson, Ada Noel Harris, Katie Christley and Madison Maas. Congratulations to all for this fantastic day! In The Wings (GSO) will be rooting for you in the next stage of the competition!
PRIZES AWARDED:
Madison Maas
Best Overall High School Treble Voice
1st place High School (lower) Musical Theatre
2nd place High School (lower) Commercial
Katie Christley
1st place High School (upper) Musical Theatre
As A Parent
Each and every one of these kids is incredibly talented. They are also a tight bunch of friends who perform together in musicals at Greensboro Performing Arts (GPA), at REP 336, at CTG and at Weaver, they support each other and cheer each other on through highs and lows. Despite this, as a parent it is still hard to watch some go through and others not. I thought about this a lot. It reminded me of my own experience. When I was at art school, I was young and in some ways out of my depth. I hadn’t fully developed the skills and capabilities to execute my ambitious ideas. When it came to graduation - I didn’t get a first class degree - I got a second. I was devastated - but, it was the making of me. I was determined to prove the judges wrong. And I did. For me, I ended up working in New York City for 20 years with my hero and global lead in my field, Milton Glaser.
So, my advice is always, don’t ever be disappointed for long, we all develop skills and experience at different paces—as long as you don’t loose your perseverance you’ll do just fine. Bouncing back from a disappointment is resilience and is a terrific trait for life. You can always take on constructive criticism if there is any, but never stop fighting to do what you love to do.