$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, Second, and Third Place winners in the Musical Theatre University/Pre-Professional division!
FIRST PLACE WINNER: CYDNEY WASHINGTON
1. What is your artist level and school if applicable?
I am a Senior in undergraduate school. Studying at Baldwin Wallace University. Under the vocal direction of J.R. Fralick.
2. What is your dream role?
My dream role is tricky but easily if its opera, Carmen in Carmen and musical theater, elphaba in Wicked.
3. What advice would you give to future participants in the CS Music competition?
The biggest piece of advice I would give any competitor is to be kind to yourself the entire competition time. You will want to pick apart the things you could’ve done better but only take that so far. It’s 3 days of non-stop singing and classes. So have a good time and share your art. Because you are the only you in the world.
4. How do you feel that singing, and music in general, can have an impact on the world?
I feel like music is one of the most universal ways of communicating. I truly believe that it heals people from the inside out. Without music in my life and a desire to perform. I’m not sure what my life would look like. I don’t think it would be as beautiful.
5. Name one of your favorite professional singers and why they are so impactful.
One of my favorite singers is a hard one. But if I had to pick someone it would be Demi Lovato. I’ve been a huge fan of Demi since I was maybe 7. I watched them in pretty much every tv/movie show they participated in. And I could honestly sing all of their songs they ever wrote. Anyways, Demi is one of the strongest people now. Through all adversaries, they have continued to press on. I admire people that are able to have life happen to them or make a mistake and still try to be the best person for themselves and the people around them.
6. In terms of singing and performing, what has been your biggest struggle and how have you overcome it?
I would say my biggest struggle in the world is not letting the opinions of others get to me. Especially when they aren’t meant to be uplifting. Another would be reminding myself to be who I am at all times. That will always take you further than expected.
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 have participated in the competition in 2017 and once more recently (2021) online. I wanted to start off my summer strong with some competitions. Since I will be in the Chicago Summer Opera theatre production of Cendrillon (07/16/22). So when I found out they were giving out free entries, I entered both in musical theatre and classical divisions. I’m really grateful to my mom for helping me during the entirety of the competition. She has supported me through every obstacle and high point in my life. I’m so happy that I get to show her that all the hard work she does is not in vain. I’m also grateful to God for giving me the gift that I have, and being able to share it with the world. Without my faith I would not be the strong, happy person people see today. I hope when people see me, they see not just the finished product. I hope they see my hard work, recesilince, and the love I have for this art form.
SECOND PLACE WINNER: AMBER MURRAY
1. What is your artist level and school if applicable?
I am going to be a senior at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I am a Theater Studies major in the Acting Concentration with a minor in Business. I have been singing since I was 9 years old.
2. What is your dream role?
I would have to say my dream role is either Veronica Sawyer in Heathers, or Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.
3. What advice would you give to future participants in the CS Music competition?
Find a song that you absolutely adore. Find a song that you can sing with heart and conviction no matter what kind of day you are having. That song will show the adjudicators who you are as an artist and a performer, and will speak the most truth to you as well. It is easy to pick a song that you know you can sing well, but it is more fulfilling to perform a song that has a message you want to share and speaks to you.
4. How do you feel that singing, and music in general, can have an impact on the world?
Music has always been a safe space for me, no matter what genre, instrument, or any other factor. When I wanted to celebrate, music was there. When I wanted to relax, music was there. When I felt alone, and needed someone to comfort me, music was there. The power of music is so strong; it is a way to communicate a message to others from your own perspective. Music is accessible to everyone in some shape or form; it is a universal language. Being able to sing and share that music with everyone means that you will always have a way to communicate with others, and I think that is extremely vital in today’s day and age.
5. Name one of your favorite professional singers and why they are so impactful.
I would have to say one of my favorite singers is Luciano Pavarotti. I have such a deep admiration of opera singers; when someone as talented as Pavarotti was introduced to me, I immediately fell in love with his art. He is able to communicate such strong emotions with a great amount of ease through his singing, and it is often in a language I do not speak. The skill and finesse he has over his voice was so refined, it made it pretty hard not to strive to be the same. Although I am not an opera singer, his talent and passion for music has only encouraged me to further my own studies and push myself to be better and see what else I can achieve.
6. In terms of singing and performing, what has been your biggest struggle and how have you overcome it?
In my experience, my biggest struggles with singing and performing have been mental. Whether it be imposter syndrome, rejections, or my own self doubt, it has taken me a while to get to a point in my life where I feel confident in myself and I can acknowledge that I am talented. I have taken countless steps to encourage myself to be where I am today. My advice is to take pride in the little achievements: submitting that audition, advancing to the next round in a competition, or getting called back even if you didn’t get the role. It is easy to see where we have “failed” per se and to not give ourselves credit where credit is due. However, once we start celebrating the things we accomplish, we can start to believe in ourselves more. Another thing that I have always tried to keep in mind, as difficult as it is, is that we are not defined by our art. It is easy to hear a “no” and think “I am the issue”, that they did not want to cast “me”, or to think that “I” am not good enough. However, our worth as a person or a performer is not defined by people telling us yes or no; we present our art to people and they decide whether it fits into their vision at that time. Just because you get a no one day does not mean it will always be no. There will be a yes around the corner if you keep working towards it. I have had to remind myself repeatedly of that fact, and it has helped me continue to present my art and feel more confident in who I am as an artist.
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?)
About 5 years ago, my voice teacher, Kristine Biller-Clifton, was giving me ideas for extra performances and competitions I could take part in. CS Music was brought up in the conversation, and I was studying both classical voice and musical theater at the time. The dual aspect of the CS Music competition was appealing, so I auditioned for Musical Theater in person at NYU and sent in a video audition for Classical. I advanced in Classical and found myself working out plans on how to get to Chicago in 2017. Each year I have continued to submit auditions and make a point of attending CS Music not only for the competition but for the learning experience the convention offers as well. I have been attending ever since!
THIRD PLACE WINNER – JACKLYNN HAUGHN
1. What is your artist level and school if applicable?
I would say that my artist level is advanced but of course, always learning more and more. I attend the University of Nevada, Reno.
2. What is your dream role?
One of my dream roles is a typical one but I have alays dreamed of playing Elphaba in Wicked. I think that she has such a unique character development and that role is just so much fun to sing!
3. What advice would you give to future participants in the CS Music competition?
Some advice that I would give future participants is to not overthink it. Just go and have fun and use it as an opportunity to focus on one goal for that song. Whether it is technique wise or something acting wise you want to focus on. Focus on that one goal and the nerves will go away and you’ll be able to have more fun with the piece. Last thing is to make sure you are always keeping your voice warm and ready because you will never know when you will have to get up and sing again!
4. How do you feel that singing, and music in general, can have an impact on the world?
I think that music as a whole gives people a beautiful and unique way to feel different emotions. I know that for most people, seeing someone perform live can be just as moving if not more moving that just listening to a recording. I am a strong believer that music heals, makes you feel and sometimes makes you want to change the world around you.
5. Name one of your favorite professional singers and why they are so impactful.
One of my favorite professional singers would have to be Jessica Vosk. Not only did she leave her 9-5 job to pursue performing, she has never given up on what she wants. She isn’t the “typical” look that leading ladies on broadway have nor does she have the “typical” broadway sound but she brings her unique style and sound to every role she has done and continues to do. I strive to also bring my unique sound and self into all of the roles I will do in the future.
6. In terms of singing and performing, what has been your biggest struggle and how have you overcome it?
One of my biggest struggles I have/have had in my performing career is my weight. I know it seems like it shouldn’t affect my performing abilities but it has held me back in the way that I hold myself back because I am scared people won’t look past what I look like due to past incidents where people haven’t. I think another thing that holds me back strictly singing wise is the fact that I have an identity crisis when it comes to if I am a soprano or am I a mezzo. I always thought I couldn’t be the pretty soprano and always had to belt my face off but thanks to my wonderful voice teacher CJ Greer, she has made me realize that I am a soprano and I do have the soprano tone that is slowly starting to develop.
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 heard about the competition through one of the voice faculty members at UNR, Katherine Parker, who has competed before and she sent it to my voice coach to have people submit. It was super last minute for me to submit and film. So I rushed home, filmed and submitted. Then once I found out that I was invited to the chicago rounds I talked with the faculty at my school and we had the funding to send me and a few other singers from my university!
