The Missouri State University Opera Theatre is singing with joy.  

They recently won top prizes at the National Opera Association (NOA) National Opera Scenes Competition. 

How did they do? 

MSU Opera Theatre placed in all divisions. 

Opera students won first place in the Musical Theatre category for their Simple Folks duet from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Camelot.” 

• Kayli Owen 
• Isaac Williams 

Opera I, undergraduate students, won first place for their duet from Benjamin Britten’s “The Turn of the Screw.” 

• Jake Luellen 
• Aiyana Williams 

Opera II, graduate students, won second place for their trio from Christoph Gluck’s “Orfeo.” 

• Tyler Hast 
• Carly Wingfield 
• Alana Yeomans 

About the competition 

Schools from across the nation competed in the preliminary round. Four schools from each division were chosen to compete at the national finals on Jan. 3 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  

The MSU Opera Theatre hopefuls made the cut in all three divisions. MSU is the only school in the nation to do so. 

About MSU Opera Theatre 

Dr. Ann Marie Daehn, director of opera and associate professor of voice at Missouri State, helped MSU join NOA in 2013.  

MSU Opera Theatre has made it to the national finals every year since 2015. 

The conference is more than a competition. It’s a way for students to learn more about the traditions of the artform, contemporary opera training, arts education and trends in the industry. 

“Throughout the conference, students attended masterclasses, performances, lectures and met luminaries of the opera field,” Daehn said. 

Though the competition is over, their musical talents are focusing on a new project.  

“Each year we perform opera and outreach in the community,” Daehn said. “This spring we will perform two one-act operas in Italian April 12 and 14 in Ellis Hall.”

Attend the spring MSU Opera performance