By: Associate Professor of Music in Voice Judith Raiford
This spring, three bachelor of music in vocal performance majors won top prizes in state-wide vocal competitions: sophomore Madyson Mitchell and juniors Jessi Rhinehart and Abigail Williams. All three are students of Judith Pannill Raiford.
On April 10, soprano Madyson Mitchell was awarded first place in the Sophomore Women Division of the Oklahoma District of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Auditions, an annual competition held virtually this year. Contestants from across the state competed for these awards, including large contingents from the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma City University, University of Central Oklahoma and several other colleges and universities.
Earlier this spring, the Hyechka Club of Tulsa announced the winners of the 2021 Music Scholarship Awards, which are open to singers between the ages of 18 to 29 in northeast Oklahoma. For the third consecutive year, all the winners of the Laven Sowell Vocal Scholarships were students of Judith Pannill Raiford:
- First ($1,500): soprano Jessi Rhinehart
- Second ($1,000): soprano Abigail Williams
These scholarships are presented in honor of Laven Sowell, a Tulsa native and longtime champion and supporter of the arts. An iconic figure in the world of vocal music, Sowell was chorus master at Tulsa Opera for over 30 years and served as director of choral activities in The University of Tulsa School of Music from 1970 to 1985.