St Charles Freshman Wins National Vocal Competition

May 27, 2019

(St Charles, IL) More than 1300 singers at the high school, college, or professional level competed for more than $2 million in university scholarships, summer program scholarships, and cash prizes in the prestigious Classical Singer (CS) Vocal Competition. The live semi-final and final rounds of the competition were held at the annual CS Convention at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Chicago over the weekend of May 23-26, 2019. Participants were able to meet with representatives of nearly 100 university programs, summer programs, sheet music vendors, and partake of master classes presented by great programs such as New England Conservatory of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Mannes and 70 more programs over the weekend of the event.

15 year old St Charles East High School freshman, Natalie Wiley, was awarded first place in the High School Musical Theater Division of the CS Vocal Competition on May 26, 2019.Additionally, Natalie was awarded partial scholarship to attend the Interlochen Summer Arts Program and Arts Academy.

Natalie studies voice with Dawn Harkins at Vero Voce School of Performing Arts in St. Charles, Illinois. Her participation in the Royal Conservatory Development Program under Dawn’s direction continues to prepare her for her future goals.

Recent voice honors include 1st Place at the Central Region National Association of Teacher of Singing (NATS) Student Auditions for High School Musical Theatre 2019, Honorable Mention-Hal Leonard North American Vocal Competition 2019.

She has been in over 30 productions throughout Arizona and Illinois and has been seen most recently as Katherine in NEWSIES at Stage Door Fine Arts in Hinsdale, Olive in 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE at St. Charles East High School in St. Charles, and will soon be playing Sophie in MAMMA MIA at Stage Door Fine Arts in Hinsdale this June.

Also of note, 17 year old Burlington Central High School Junior, Charles Karner, a student of Dawn Harkins at Vero Voce and a semi-finalist at the CS Vocal Competition received scholarship awards upward of $25,000. Charles was chosen by audition to sing at Carnegie Hall, New York City in February of 2019 with the National Honors Performance Series Choir. Other awards include First Place in the Chicago NATS 2018 Lower Men’s High School Musical Theatre Student Auditions, and Honorable Mention in the Central Region (Illinois, Iowa and Missouri) NATS 2018 Men’s High School Musical Theater Student Auditions.

Vero Voce was established in 2001 and recently relocated to 3755 East Main Street, #158 in St Charles. More information about lessons, classes or performances can be found at www.verovoce.com or by calling 630-584-0139.