Published September 12, 2024
CAPTION:Pictured L-R: Gabe Garcia (Cedar Creek HS), Braden Tucker, James Wright, Preston Anderson
MONROE, LA – In June 2024, ULM School of Visual and Performing Arts students and voice majors Preston
Anderson, Braden Tucker, and James Wright participated in the National Association
of Teachers of Singing National Students Auditions in Knoxville, TN.
Each of the three students began their audition process in Fall 2023, competing at
the regional level to qualify for nationals. After reauditioning at the national level
in April 2024, Anderson, Tucker, and Wright were all selected as national semi-finalists,
each in two different singing categories based on their year of study and age. As
national semi-finalists, they were ranked among the top 12-14 singers in the country
in their qualifying categories.
Senior vocal performance major, James Wright, won 2nd place nationally in the Hall
Johnson Spiritual category. Anderson, Tucker, and Wright are all students of Dr. Claire
Vangelisti. Pictured also is Gabe Garcia: senior at Cedar Creek High School, also
a national semi-finalist and student of Vangelisti.
