$14,000 of cash prizes and $4.2 million in scholarships were awarded at the 2022 CS Vocal Competition. Meet the winners in a series of online features.
Introducing our First and Second Place winners in the Classical University division!
FIRST PLACE WINNER: NATALIE CORRIGAN
1. What is your artist level and school if applicable?
I am a rising senior studying at University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music studying with Amy Johnson and Stuart Skelton.
2. What is your dream role?
I would love to sing Carmen but even more than her, I would LOVE to sing Octavian. I feel very drawn to Strauss’ works: opera and lieder. Additionally, I really enjoy contemporary opera and would really enjoy premiering new roles.
3. What advice would you give to future participants in the CS Music competition?
My advice would be to treat it as a learning opportunity. Competition settings can sometimes be stressful, and I find the best way to overcome this anxiety is to just remember you are your only competitor. Aim to be better than you were yesterday and worry less about the other competitors. AND!! Sing what you love.
4. How do you feel that singing, and music in general, can have an impact on the world?
In our distress of the pandemic, we saw the power music holds. When we had nothing else, we turned to this art form for comfort and peace. I have always found solace in this art form. Music is a universal language that is applicable to all. My hope is we continue to maintain this art form by allowing artists to pursue this career reliably.
5. Name one of your favorite professional singers and why they are so impactful.
Elīna Garanča is my idol. I think I have watched every YouTube video of her singing and read every interview. She commands the stage with her voice’s agility, darkness, and beauty. Her and Roberto Alagna on stage are an unmatched duo. I have found her performances impactful because of her embodiment of the characters she performs. I aim to immerse myself into a character like I see in her performances.
6. In terms of singing and performing, what has been your biggest struggle and how have you overcome it?
I think what is commonly felt but rarely mentioned is the doubt singers can feel. Doubt in terms of one’s potential, if one is taking the right steps for their desired pathway, or if even this is the right career. At the beginning of the pandemic, I was not only unmotivated to sing but I felt like I was questioning if I even had a passion for music anymore. Previous to the pandemic, I had doubts before but these thoughts were always pushed aside with work. The pandemic forced me to decide what I wanted in this career and if I had the courage to pursue it. Because of my doubts, I was able to solidify, making certain, this career is what I wanted. However, this journey taught me that motivation can vary but discipline and consistency are the necessary daily steps to achieve any dream goal.
7. How did you come to participate in the competition? (How did you hear about it and what steps did you take in order to make it happen?)
I competed in the semifinals of Classical Singer in the High School Division during my junior and senior year. My first two years of undergraduate, I spent the time studying and solidifying technique without the pressure of needing to compete. This year was the first year of college I began competing.
SECOND PLACE WINNER: EVANGELINE NG
1. What is your artist level and school if applicable?
Classical University – I recently graduated with my BM from Manhattan School of Music.
2. What is your dream role?
It’s too difficult to narrow it down to one… I would say Mimi from La Boheme as well as Manon by Massenet!
3. What advice would you give to future participants in the CS Music competition?
Don’t go out there to impress anyone, go out there to tell a story!
4. How do you feel that singing, and music in general, can have an impact on the world?
Music is the highest form of expression, and has the ability to move, inspire and heal our souls.
5. Name one of your favorite professional singers and why they are so impactful.
My favorite singer is soprano Renata Tebaldi. The way she communicates through singing, and the beauty and warmth of her tone is extraordinary. She never made a sound that wasn’t beautiful – truly the voice of an angel. I aspire to be an artist like her.
6. In terms of singing and performing, what has been your biggest struggle and how have you overcome it?
My biggest struggle is that I always try to be perfect, but as my wonderful teacher Joan Patenaude-Yarnell always told me, perfection doesn’t exist and even if it did, it would be the most boring thing ever! I have to allow myself to focus on telling the story, instead of fearing for imperfection.
7. How did you come to participate in the competition? (How did you hear about it and what steps did you take in order to make it happen?)
I was coming from the Art Song Festival in Cleveland, and had 2 days off before my contract with the Grant Park Music Festival started and it perfectly coincided with the CS competition, so I thought: “why not?” and truly had a blast!
Photo of the finalists in the Classical University division:
