HPU press

Student Testimonials

Class of 2018 Outcomes: Lauren Fitch to Attend Law School at University of Maryland

• Most impactful mentor at HPU: “My most impactful mentor in the music department was probably Dr. Scott MacLeod. He stuck by me when I had doubts about my major, and he hasn’t stopped encouraging me all throughout my college experience.

Class of 2017 Outcomes: Shinn LaMachio Begins Career as Government Contractor

• Most impactful moment at HPU: “Performing with Musical Theater was a new experience for me. For me, it was opening up and performing with friends, which was something I’d never done before but always wanted to do. Dr. Scott MacLeod and Dr. Ben Blozan made me feel welcome even though I wasn’t officially in the music department.” 

Class of 2017 Outcomes: Laura Hutchins Pursues Masters of Music at East Carolina University

• Most impactful mentor at HPU: “By far my most impactful mentor at HPU has been Dr. Scott MacLeod. Early on, Dr. MacLeod recognized my potential and presented me with the opportunities that have challenged me and helped me to grow both as an artist and as a person. I began working with him my sophomore year when I registered for his opera scenes class. He encouraged me to study abroad with him and a group of students the next semester in Prague, Czech Republic. It was there that I fell in love with opera and knew that music was definitely what I wanted to do. Since then, he has been my private voice teacher, and I have continued to participate in his opera and musical theatre scenes classes. I also sing with the NC Opera Chorus, which is under his direction. Last fall I was selected, along with two other students, to travel with him to Costa Rica to perform Jason Robert Brown’s ‘Songs for a New World’ as a part of the Promising Artists of the 21st Century Program. I am confident all that I have learned and accomplished during my time at HPU would not have been possible without his patient teaching, high standards and encouragement.” Most impactful moment at HPU: “During that semester that I studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic, I caught a glimpse of how a career in the arts really looks. It was there that I tried doner kebab, embraced a new culture, gained a different perspective on the world and found my voice.”

Class of 2017 Outcomes: Emily Krol Lands Competitive Position at Lenovo

• Most impactful mentor at HPU: “After beginning vocal studies under his direction while studying abroad in Prague, Dr. Scott MacLeod has by far become my most impactful mentor HPU. As a senior voice major, a requirement for graduation is giving an hour-long Senior Recital, in which the student performs an hour’s worth of classical music by memory, accompanied by piano. Dr. MacLeod prepared me greatly for this experience, as well as countless other life experiences and undergraduate challenges. He has helped me to discover my true potential as a singer, and has encouraged me to continue singing with various professional groups in Raleigh post-graduation. His door is always open for any of his students who need advice, a helping hand, or simply a laugh. Dr. MacLeod will remain my great friend and most influential mentor long after my graduation from HPU.” 

Class of 2016 Outcomes: Nick Pierle Begins Journey to Music Conductor

• Most impactful mentor at HPU: “The most impactful mentor that I have had at HPU is Dr. Scott MacLeod, a faculty member of the Music Department. I have studied voice with him for 1.5 years, and he has helped me enhance my vocal technique. Besides being a vocal coach, he has taught me many life lessons and has been someone who I can talk to about anything. Dr. MacLeod will be a life-long mentor and friend after graduation.“ Most impactful moment at HPU: “The most impactful moment for me at HPU was my trip abroad to Prague, Czech Republic. The trip was led by Dr. Scott MacLeod, and we studied the history of Czech music as well the history and performance and production of opera. Being immersed in a culture that is driven by the arts, especially music, allowed for me to find a deeper understanding and a personal connection with the music I perform.” 

Faculty Profile

HPU'S Experiential Learning: Finding the 'Real' in Life

• Corbin Elliott, an HPU sophomore, says a long drive several times a week builds his.

  For three months, Elliott car-pooled nearly two hours one way to Raleigh to prepare for the North Carolina debut in late January of “Rigoletto,” a production of the North Carolina Opera.

  Elliott will sing with the production’s ensemble. But that’s not the best part. Thanks to the long drive, Elliott gets career advice from the professionals in the car and the world’s best opera singers onstage.

  Elliott wants to do what they do. Scott MacLeod helped make that opportunity happen.

  MacLeod is Elliott’s vocal professor at HPU. He’s also the chorus master for the North Carolina Opera. So, he recruits his best vocal students to sing for the North Carolina Opera.

  Like Elliott, a native of Salisbury, North Carolina, majoring in vocal performance.

   ‘These are huge formative years,” MacLeod says, “and college plays a big part of getting them to understand how they can contribute to the world, question their place in the world and allow them the chance to explore themselves.

  “Then, they can really imagine the people they are destined to become.”

HPU Welcomes MacLeod to Music Department

• HIGH POINT, N.C., Oct. 22, 2012 – The department of music at High Point University recently hired Dr. Scott MacLeod as an assistant professor of music.

  MacLeod will serve as music director for all HPU musical theater productions and will also serve as co-chair of the HPU vocal division.

  “It is an honor to be a part of this university,” MacLeod says. “I believe in its direction, its role within the broader academic community, and its holistic approach to student growth.”

  As a performer, MacLeod has appeared in a variety of venues both nationally and abroad, including a solo debut at Carnegie Hall with the New York Chamber Orchestra.

  In addition to his work at HPU, MacLeod provides individual voice training and teaches opera and musical theatre techniques. He also maintains an active career as a singer, conductor and clinician.

  MacLeod earned a Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University, a Master of Music from Florida State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Academic and Professional Achievements

HPU Announces Academic and Professional Achievements

• HPU Professor Performs with Symphony, Opera: Dr. Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of voice at HPU, is scheduled to appear at two upcoming events hosted by the North Carolina Symphony. On June 1, he will perform “A Rodgers and Hammerstein Celebration” at the symphony’s annual Summerfest in Cary. He will also be a soloist in the July 4 Celebration Tour with performances across North Carolina. This month, MacLeod performed with the Center of Contemporary Opera in New York City in a workshop performance of “The Sorrows of Frederick.” The production by award-winning composer Scott Wheeler took place at the Irondale Theater in Brooklyn, New York.

HPU Announces Academic and Professional Achievements

• Director of Vocal Studies to Perform 'The Polar Express' with NC Symphony: Dr. Scott MacLeod, director of vocal studies at HPU, was selected to be a narrator and soloist for “The Polar Express” with the North Carolina Symphony. Paintings from the Caldecott Medal-winning picture book will be on display and a children’s chorus will join the symphony.

  “I look forward to singing Robert Kapilow’s symphonic arrangement of ‘The Polar Express,’ a charming and creative adaptation of the classic story,” MacLeod says. “This will be a fun way to kick off the holidays."

HPU Announces Academic and Professional Achievements

• Music Professor Performs with the North Carolina Symphony: Dr. Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of voice at HPU, recently performed as a soloist with the North Carolina Symphony “Pops” tour. The tour included timeless classics in the style of the acclaimed Boston Pops, such as the Can-Can and the Sabre Dance. MacLeod sang two Mozart arias, as well as songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein, including “Some Enchanted Evening” and “Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’.”

  “The Boston Pops, under conductor Arthur Fielder, was established to provide musical entertainment to a wide audience and introduce symphonic music to the general public in a festive atmosphere,” MacLeod says. “It was a joy to perform again with the North Carolina Symphony and pay tribute to this special American tradition.”

HPU Announces Academic and Professional Achievements

• Music and Theatre Students, Professor Perform in “Cold Mountain”: Three HPU students and Dr. Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of music at HPU, will perform in “Cold Mountain” with the North Carolina Opera. Freshman Jerry Hurley and sophomore Corbin Elliott, both voice majors, are members of the chorus. Senior theatre major Cody Clark is part of the fight team. MacLeod is the production’s chorus master and will sing the roles of Monroe, Pangle and a Chain Gang Guard. The opera, by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon, will make its North Carolina premiere on Sept. 28 and Oct. 1 at Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill.

  “This opera features major American opera stars, many of whom have graced some of the world’s most important stages, including Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera and Santa Fe Opera,” MacLeod says. “Melinda Whittington, the opera’s female lead, will sing a recital at HPU on Oct. 26 and give a masterclass for students on Oct. 27. We hope many community members will join us for her performance.”

HPU Announces Academic and Professional Achievements

• Music Professor Teaches, Directs Opera in China: Dr. Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of music at HPU, recently traveled to China to work with students and faculty at two universities. He spent a week at Xi’an Conservatory of Music teaching master classes and learning about the style of teaching there. He then worked for a month with students and faculty at Shaoguan University, where he directed and conducted Monteverdi’s “L’Orfeo,” the first opera to be performed at the university. Shaoguan University awarded MacLeod with an honorary professorship at the conclusion of his stay. “There were challenges of working across cultures and introducing new and foreign ideas, but the trip was a great experience,” says MacLeod. “It was especially interesting to explore multicultural concepts through the opera, which is historically a Western production. I infused some folk elements, such as traditional Chinese instruments and dance. The end result was a fascinating and meaningful product of East meets West.”

HPU Announces Academic and Professional Achievements

• Music Professor to Perform for Service Members, Spouses: Dr. Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of music at HPU, will perform for members of the military and their spouses at several USO-North Carolina Opera sponsored programs throughout the year. During the Spouse Reset and Warrior Reset programs hosted in April, May, June and September throughout the state, he will sing excerpts from Pulitzer-Prize winner Jennifer Higdon’s opera “Cold Mountain.” His participation is part of an art therapy component of the two-to-three day retreats, which support the health and well-being of service members and their spouses.

  “We will present three excerpts from the opera that we hope will resonate with the experiences of these active service members and their spouses,” says MacLeod. “I am proud to participate in this collaboration, which provides a valuable service to our troops and celebrates the rich and diverse cultural offerings in North Carolina.”

  MacLeod will perform the roles of Monroe, Pangle and Chain Gang Guard and serve as chorus master when “Cold Mountain” makes its North Carolina premiere on Sept. 28 and Oct. 1 at Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill.

HPU Announces Academic and Professional Achievements

• Voice Professor Participates in Two Opera Productions: Dr. Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of voice at HPU, is performing in two opera productions in March. From March 17-21, he will perform the role of “Taddeo” in Rossini’s “The Italian Girl in Algiers” with Piedmont Opera at the Stevens Center in Winston-Salem. This month, he also was chorus master for North Carolina Opera’s production of Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” at A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater in Raleigh.

  “Although I have performed in ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ a number of times, ‘The Italian Girl in Algiers’ is a new opera for me,” says MacLeod. “Learning repertoire for the first time can be difficult, but it is a perfect opportunity to apply a growth mindset, just as we encourage our students to do.”

• Music Faculty Perform in Piedmont Artists Concert Series: Dr. Robert Hallquist, adjunct instructor of piano at HPU, Dr. Laura Stevens, instructor of flute, and Dr. Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of voice, will perform together for the second concert of the 2017 Piedmont Artists Concert Series. The event will be held at 4 p.m. on March 26 at First Presbyterian Church in High Point. The concert is free to the public. “I am thrilled to be joined in this recital by favorite friends and musical collaborators Scott MacLeod and Laura Stevens,” says Hallquist. “I will lead off the program with two short piano solos, Mozart’s playful ‘Rondo in D Major’ and Toru Takemitsu’s evocative ‘Rain Tree Sketch II.’ Scott and I will then perform Robert Schumann’s extended dramatic song ‘The Lion’s Bride,’ and Laura and I will finish up with Sergey Prokofiev’s masterful ‘Sonata in D Major for Flute and Piano.’ The audience will be treated to a wide variety of sounds as we journey through musical space and time to Austria, Japan, Germany and Russia.”

HPU Announces Academic and Professional Achievements

• Music Faculty Member to Perform with North Carolina Symphony: Dr. Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of voice, will perform as soloist with the North Carolina Symphony during its Feb. 24 concert. The symphony will present Ives Symphony No. 2 at noon at Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh. MacLeod has appeared as a soloist in a variety of regional venues, including North Carolina’s Greensboro Opera, Piedmont Opera and Eastern Music Festival, as well as national and international venues such as the National Symphony of Costa Rica and Carnegie Hall. At HPU, he provides individual voice training, teaches opera and musical theatre techniques, and serves as music director for HPU opera and musical theatre productions.

  “North Carolina is a great place to be a musician,” says MacLeod. “There are a lot of great organizations that produce fantastic works. I’m grateful for performing opportunities like this, and to teach at a university that supports and promotes the arts.”

Professor Performs Statewide with North Carolina Symphony at Patriotic Concerts 

• HIGH POINT, N.C., June 25, 2015 – Dr. Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of voice at High Point University, will join the North Carolina Symphony in performance at a series of concerts planned across the state in celebration of Independence Day.

  MacLeod has been selected as guest soloist and will serve as narrator for the symphony’s presentation of a collection of patriotic favorites and high-spirited classics at free “Concerts in Your Community” events on June 30 in Goldsboro, July 1 in Fayetteville, July 3 in Garner and July 4 in Cary. He will also join the symphony on July 2 at the annual Stars and Stripes Concert in Wilmington.

  The program, conducted by Symphony Associate Conductor David Glover, will feature MacLeod’s vocals on “Oh Susannah,” “Old Dan Tucker,” and “When Johnny Comes Marching Home.” He will narrate “Casey at the Bat.” Other musical selections to be performed include “The Star-Spangled Banner,” John Williams’ “Liberty Fanfare,” John Philip Sousa’s “Semper Fidelis” and Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.”

  MacLeod has a longstanding relationship with the North Carolina Symphony, and this opportunity will mark his eighth performance with the orchestra since 2006.

  “It is always an honor to perform with the North Carolina Symphony,” he says. “They are extremely well-respected both regionally and nationally, and they provide a valuable service to North Carolina by bringing music to people of all ages and to communities throughout the state.”

  MacLeod, a baritone, has appeared in a variety of venues nationally and abroad, including Greensboro Opera, Eastern Music Festival, the National Symphony of Costa Rica and Carnegie Hall. His performances have spanned classical and musical theatre genres, recently including “Best of Broadway” with the North Carolina Symphony, “Rusalka” with the North Carolina Opera, Jiři Kadeřábek’s “Kafka’s Women” with the NYC Center for Contemporary Opera and “Daughter of the Regiment” with Greensboro Opera.

  Founded in 1932, the North Carolina Symphony gives more than 200 performances annually to adults and school children in more than 50 North Carolina counties. An entity of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, the orchestra employs 66 professional musicians, under the artistic leadership of Music Director and Conductor Grant Llewellyn, Resident Conductor William Henry Curry and Associate Conductor David Glover.

  HPU hosts the symphony each December for “Holiday Pops,” an annual favorite presented as part of the Community Enrichment Series on campus. This year’s concert will be held Dec. 8.

Student Achievements

HPU Announces Academic and Professional Achievements

• Music Students Compete in State, Regional and National NATS Competitions: Four HPU music students competed in the state, regional and national competitions of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). At the state level, junior Emma DiMaio won first place in third-year college musical theatre. Freshman Jerry Hurley won second place in first-year college classical. Sophomore Corbin Elliott won third place in second-year college classical. Junior Maggie Collier earned enough points to advance to regionals along with the other three students. At the Mid-Atlantic regionals, held in Virginia on March 16, DiMaio earned enough points to participate in a sing-off in her category. Hurley received fourth place in his category and will compete by video audition at the national level. Dr. Candice Burrows and Dr. Scott MacLeod instructed the students, and adjunct faculty pianists Susan Young and Dr. Ben Blozan accompanied the students at the competitions.
• Music Major Selected for Two Acclaimed Summer Programs: HPU student Laura Carskadden, a junior music major, was selected for both the University of Miami Frost School of Music at Salzburg summer program and the Songfest summer program in Los Angeles. During the Frost program, she will study voice in Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Mozart and host of the prestigious Salzburg Festival featuring musicians from around the world. Songfest is a festival and training program that includes masterclasses and performances by major artist faculty.

  “Both programs are highly competitive and claim many successful alumni. The Songfest faculty is particularly impressive, including internationally-renowned performers, composers, collaborative pianists and teachers/coaches,” says Dr. Scott MacLeod, director of vocal studies at HPU. “This is an important accomplishment for Laura. Her participation in both programs will serve as a valuable training opportunity.”

Students and Faculty Take Talents to Costa Rica

• HIGH POINT, N.C., Oct. 21, 2016 – For the third year, three students from High Point University participated in the highly selective Promising Artists Program in Costa Rica and took the stage during a week of musical performances.

  The Promising Artists program started in 1986 and is recognized by the U.S. State Department. Each year, The Costa Rica Centro Cultural invites students from top-tier institutions considered among the best from the U.S. to spend the week performing, teaching classes and gaining cultural experiences.

  After receiving an exclusive invitation to participate, sophomore Laura Carskadden, senior Laura Hutchins and sophomore Rowan Grieb participated in classes at La Colmena, Costa Rican Musical Theatre Training Institute, held mini-performances and took time to explore the country.

  They were joined by Dr. Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of voice, and Dr. Ben Blozan, adjunct instructor of piano, for performances at numerous venues, including a benefit concert at Eugene O’Neill Theatre.

  MacLeod says that these students were chosen because of their talent, work ethic, ability to sing demanding songs and for specific roles in the show. He says they also consistently demonstrate a level of character and values that reflect well on High Point University and U.S.-based arts programs.

  “I was very proud of this group; they performed at a high level throughout the tour and served as excellent ambassadors for our university and our nation,” says MacLeod. “Dr. Ben Blozan accompanied all performances and classes, and he too was in top form during the entire trip.”

  Hutchins says she is grateful for the opportunity and it’s an experience she will always remember.

  “One of the coolest parts was getting to know students in Costa Rica,” says Hutchins. “They had opportunities to see us perform and we got to sit in on a masterclass with them. They don’t have much access to live musicals in their country, but they were extremely passionate and attentive.”

  Grieb says that performing in Costa Rica was not only a life changing cultural experience where he saw how different societies interact and operate, but a chance to gain life skills.

  “Our performance tour offered a unique opportunity to be treated as a professional performer and learn what it would be like to live as a performer,” says Grieb. “I am so very grateful for this opportunity and cannot express my thanks enough to the school and to everyone that made this tour possible.”

Three Students Perform with NC Opera

• HIGH POINT, N.C., Jan. 18, 2016 – Three High Point University music majors have joined the chorus for an upcoming production by North Carolina Opera. Jay Card, James Austin Porzenski and Laura Hutchins will perform in Tchaikovsky’s opera “Eugene Onegin,” to be presented in concert at 3 p.m. on Jan. 24 at Meymandi Auditorium in Raleigh.

  Dr. Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of voice at HPU, who has served as chorus master for the opera since 2013, says this is an impressive opportunity for these talented HPU students.

  “North Carolina Opera is one of the preeminent opera companies in the region,” he says. “They hire on major international artists and consistently perform to high acclaim. I can’t think of a better way for our students to lay the groundwork for exciting singing careers.”

  The students have worked tirelessly to prepare for the performance, including challenging rehearsals and learning to sing in a new language. The opera will be performed in Russian.

  “The opportunity to perform in full productions alongside internationally known singers is incredible. Singing with the more experienced members in the chorus has pushed me to work hard and learn by doing,” says Hutchins, a junior from Winston-Salem.

  “The music itself in ‘Eugene Onegin’ is a good vocal work out, and then you throw in the Russian and it becomes a real challenge. The rehearsals are very demanding because we move so quickly, you have to work hard to not get left behind,” says Card, a senior from Shelter Island, New York. “Through this experience I’ve learned that I have what it takes to do this professionally. I really have to thank the faculty at HPU for helping me get to this point.”

  Porzenski, a junior from Charlotte who has experience performing with Opera Carolina and the Greensboro Opera, says he is excited to work with the professional artists cast in the title roles and learn from them.

  “I’m very fortunate to be able to work with such great musicians who do the same thing I want to do,” Porzenski says. “As a student studying vocal performance, I’m getting an inside look at the amount of dedication and passion that goes into every rehearsal, even for chorus members.”

  Participating in the North Carolina Opera may become an ongoing opportunity for these students. Hutchins was a part of the opera’s performance of “Madama Butterfly” in October. Card and Porzenski may also join the chorus for the upcoming production of Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” in April.

  Tickets for the Jan. 24 performance are available for purchase through the North Carolina Opera website, https://www.ncopera.org. The opera will be recorded and broadcast on WCPE radio in May for Tchaikovsky’s birthday.

Voice Students Win NATS Competition

• HIGH POINT, N.C., Jan. 7, 2015 – High Point University provided exceptional talent at the state level of the NATS vocal competition held at UNC Charlotte. Six HPU voice students sang for the vocal competition and received four top honors in musical theater style singing:
  • Senior Madison Jordan, won first place in the junior/senior male category. Jordan is a double major in theater and vocal performance and studies voice with Dr. Candice Burrows, instructor of voice.
  • Roxanne Daneman a junior, and double major in theater and vocal performance also won first place in her category of junior/senior female. Daneman also studies privately with Burrows.
  • Ashley Russell, a sophomore vocal performance major is a student of Dr. Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of voice. She received second place in the freshman/sophomore female category.
  • Junior Summer Kiesel, a theater major and vocal performance minor, also studies with Burrows and received third place for her junior/senior female category.

 “Winning is huge; they are competing against every college and university in the state. We have been doing so well at the NATS competitions in the last few years and I know it is because we have amazing talent here at HPU,” says Burrows.The NATS competition requires all contestants to perform four songs from musical theater works dating from prior to 1960 and forward to present day. In addition, the student must demonstrate high range and low range dominant singing while engaged in acting out the dramatic roles.

The student winners will be participating in the NATS mid-Atlantic regional competition in March at the University of Maryland.

Music Students Take Talents to Costa Rica

• HIGH POINT, N.C., Nov. 3, 2014 – For the second year in a row, students from High Point University took stage alongside students from NYU, Berklee College of Music and other top-tier performing art schools at Costa Rica’s highly selective Promising Artists of the 21^st Century Program.

  The Promising Artists program started in 1986 and is recognized by the U.S. State Department. Each year, The Costa Rica Centro Cultural invites students from top-tier institutions considered the best of the best from the U.S. to spend the week performing, teaching classes and gaining cultural experiences.

  Roxy Daneman, Ashley Siebeneichen and Madison Jordan danced, sang and shared their talents in the San Jose National Theatre and several other venues after receiving an exclusive invitation to participate. They produced and performed a U.S. musical theatre showcase featuring popular scenes and melodies from a variety of hit Broadway shows.

  “There are no proper words to express how much this trip helped me to expand as a performer and a professional in the field of performance,” says Daneman. “Not only was I able to push myself to work hard for a week full of performances, I was able to expand my cultural horizons by traveling to a foreign country. I am so thankful to everyone involved in the Promising Artist of the 21st Century program and to all of the people who helped me to grow so much along this journey.”

  “The students represented themselves and the arts at HPU very well,” says Scott Macleod, assistant professor of music at HPU. “Audiences in Costa Rica do not get much exposure to Broadway musical theatre, and they received the performances with great enthusiasm. This provided a tremendous learning opportunity for our students as well.”

  This is one of many robust learning opportunities in the Department of Music for students to perform in front of thousands at events and on stages across the world. Others include performances as Carnegie Hall, St. Peter’s Basilica and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In 2010, the university became the 110^th school in the world to earn the All-Steinway Designation.

Music Students Return From Performing in Costa Rica

• HIGH POINT, N.C., Oct. 4, 2013 – Music students from High Point University just returned from Costa Rica where they participated in the country’s unique and highly selective “Promising Artists” program.

  The students invited to take part in the program each year are considered some of the best of the best from the U.S. HPU students spent the week performing, teaching classes and gaining cultural experiences.

  The three HPU students produced and performed a U.S. musical theatre showcase featuring popular scenes and melodies from a variety of hit Broadway shows. The students who represented HPU were: senior Courtney Feiman who has been nominated for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for her roles in Urinetown, Kiss Me Kate and Les Liaisons Dangereuses; junior Madison Jordan who recently won first place at the Southeast Regional Musical Theatre NATS (National Association of Teachers Singing) competition in Charleston, S.C.; and sophomore Joshua Stein who has also performed at Southern Appalachian Repertory Theater and Parkway Playhouse.

  “This trip was a fantastic opportunity for us. Everyone in Costa Rica was so eager to learn and fun to be around, and it was easily one of the best experiences of my life,” said Jordan.

  “This was also a great opportunity for their careers,” says Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of Music at HPU. “They had the opportunity to perform solo pieces internationally, which looks great on resumes. They were able to experience Costa Rica, and putting the showcase together allowed them to learn more about commitment and independence than they would have been able to in a classroom.”

  The Promising Artists program started in 1986 and is recognized by the U.S. State Dept. Each year, Costa Rica invites students from top-tier institutions including The Julliard School, New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music.

  “Our students exhibited professionalism and courtesy for the entirety of their stay, reflective of the strong values that HPU instills in its students,” added MacLeod. “I heard a great deal of positive feedback from our hosts and audience members, who hope that we can continue our artistic relationship in the future.”

Music Students Advance in National Competition

• HIGH POINT, N.C., Jan. 4, 2013 – Students from the High Point University department of music recently attended the National Association of Teachers of Singing state competition, where five students placed and will advance in the competition.

  Fifteen students from the HPU department of music participated in the competition. Junior Alex Palmer, sophomores Madison Jordan and Ashley Siebeneichen, and freshmen Allyson Goff and Roxy Daneman, will all advance to the NATS regional competition in Charleston, S.C. in April. Jordan and Siebeneichen both took third place in their divisions.

  Each student prepared four musical theatre selections and was allotted a 10-minute performance of the judges’ choice.

  The HPU students were up against other established musical programs statewide including, Eastern Carolina University and Appalachian State University. 

  “The upcoming regional competition in Charleston brings top performers from the mid-Atlantic region, including Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina,” says Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of music and co-chair of vocal studies at HPU. “The competition will certainly be steeper and the judging will also rise accordingly.”

  Dr. Candice Burrows, instructor of music and co-chair of vocal studies at HPU, says it’s an honor for these students to be performing at such a level.

  “We have some great talent here at HPU and the faculty is committed to helping each student achieve their musical goals. With that being said, we set up a pre-NATS recital so that all the contestants had the opportunity to perform in front of their peers prior to the actual competition,” Burrows says. “This proved very fruitful for us as a school of higher education. Only around 20 percent of students who audition at the state level pass on to the regional level. HPU registered 15 vocalists. This is a very exciting time.”

  NATS is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world with more than 7,300 members in the U.S., Canada, and more than 25 other countries.

HPU Announces Academic and Professional Achievements

• Music Students Share Opera in the Community: Students enrolled in HPU’s Opera Scenes course this semester performed excerpts of the English translation of the operetta “Die Fledermaus” at the String and Splinter in High Point on Nov. 1. The club hosted a special Viennese meal to accompany the operetta. The students performed the entire operetta in concert on campus Nov. 2 as part of HPU’s Community Enrichment Series. Then, they were the featured entertainment for the Greensboro Symphony Guild’s annual gala on Nov. 10. In the spring, students enrolled in the Musical Theatre Scenes course will have the opportunity to perform selections from various musicals at senior centers, engaging with residents who will be able to share their experiences growing up in the Golden Age of musical theatre.

  “Singing a full three-act opera was a big achievement for HPU music students,” says Dr. Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of music. “This is an unusual accomplishment for students in an all-undergraduate program, and I am proud of their commitment to excellence.”

Charles Strouse at HPU

Broadway Legend Charles Strouse Shares Expertise and Talent with Students 

• HIGH POINT, N.C., March 27, 2014 – High Point University students took the stage alongside a Broadway legend on March 25 where, together, they sang the famous tune “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.” Even if you don’t know Broadway, most are familiar with the popular tune featured in the musical “Annie.”

  The man behind that and many other classic musical numbers such as “Bye Bye Birdie” is Charles Strouse, Tony Award-winning composer. Strouse visited the HPU campus to share his rare expertise through master classes with students and a finale Showcase, where both he and students performed his work in the Hayworth Fine Arts Theatre on campus.

  It was an experience that is not only rare, but extremely beneficial for students studying music and theatre, says Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of music who helped coordinate the event.

  “Charles Strouse has touched the life of almost every American in the last half century, and it was a tremendous opportunity for the HPU campus and our community,” MacLeod says.

  Students like Chaz Duffy, senior theatre major, had the unique opportunity to perform many of Strouse’s works during the event for the man himself, along with his wife, Barbara Simon.

  Duffy found working with Strouse and his wife a humbling, affirming and fulfilling experience.

  “To have the chance to work with Broadway professionals of their legendary caliber has truly been an honor and a wonderful opportunity for each of us here at HPU,” Duffy says. “To work intimately with the mind that brought us such distinctly influential pieces of American theatre has been a true joy, and a personally affirming experience in my own artistic career. Performing this beautiful and touching music to the composer himself, and seeing Charles smile back at me from ear to ear is an experience I will cherish forever.”

  Ryan Dillon, a senior, says meeting Strouse was unlike anything he expected, and in fact, the experience has inspired him to pursue musical theatre after college.

  “When I first met Charles, I was so nervous and almost unable to talk to him; I knew I was in the presence of a Broadway legend,” Dillon says. “I’ve performed his music all of my life, but to be in the presence of the man who made such iconic numbers was nothing short of amazing. He is full of both experience and joy for music. When we talked, it felt as though we were old friends picking up the end of a conversation we had before. This was the chance of a lifetime, and the chance to perform and talk to him was incredible.”

Acclaimed Composer of "Annie," "Bye Bye Birdie," Charles Strouse to Host Showcase at HPU 

• HIGH POINT, N.C., March 11, 2014 – High Point University will host one of the most successful musical theatre composers in history, Broadway legend Charles Strouse, on its stage for a special evening of celebration. The showcase will be held at 7:30 p.m. March 25 in the Pauline Theatre of the Hayworth Fine Arts Center.

  The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. To reserve tickets, email reservations@highpoint.edu or call 336-841-9209.

  Best known and cherished for the classics “Annie” and “Bye Bye Birdie,” Strouse will share personal stories, performances and tributes from his life and career onstage and in cinema.  The evening will also include some of Strouse’s musical theatre scenes performed by HPU students.

  “Charles Strouse has touched the life of almost every American in the last half century,” says Scott MacLeod, assistant professor of music. “It is a tremendous opportunity for our students, faculty, staff and the High Point community alike to work with a true legend of the Broadway stage.”

  Strouse selected HPU junior Ashley Siebeneichen as his intern this past summer. Now Songwriters Hall of Fame member, along with his wife Barbara, is setting aside time to teach a series of workshops and master classes on the HPU campus leading up to the event on March 23-24.

  According to MacLeod, this is an experience that does not come along every day.

  “This is a rare opportunity for students and faculty alike to work with a living legend, and we are so honored to host the Strouses,” say MacLeod. “Charles is a wonderful entertainer and person, and I know that this is going to be an evening that students and community will remember for years to come.”

  Students featured in the production participate in the “Musical Theatre Scenes” course on campus and come from a variety of majors and backgrounds. MacLeod is serving as music director and producer for the program, and is co-directing alongside Jay Putnam, assistant professor of theatre and local actor and director Michael Tourek.

  Cara Hagan, instructor of dance, is choreographing; Matthew Emerson, assistant professor of theatre, is the scenic designer; and Ami Shupe, associate professor of theatre, is creating the costumes. Accompaniment for the event will be provided by Dr. Robert Hallquist, associate professor of music, along with other HPU music faculty.

Concerts and Enrichment Series Events