WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Dec. 14, 2018 — West Liberty University is enjoying music success with its alumni this December.
“We are thrilled to see our graduates doing such great work in the professional world and being recognized with major awards and distinctions. It is a testament to their excellence, their work ethic and the training they received at West Liberty,” said WLU Director of Choral Activities Ryan Keeling.
2014 graduate Timothi Williams, who earned a bachelor’s in vocal performance at WLU, won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (Pittsburgh District) on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018.
This prestigious competition was held at Kresge Theatre at Carnegie Mellon University. Williams was one of just three selected to move on to the next stage of competition out of a total of 26 singers.
Williams will next compete in the Buffalo/Toronto Regional Auditions in January 2019.
Williams also is a 2016 and 2017 graduate of Penn State University, where she earned a master’s degree in vocal performance and professional performance certificate.
2009 graduate Bethany (Snyder) Fernbaugh, who earned a bachelor’s degree in music education at WLU, achieved national board certification in November 2018.
Fernbaugh is the general music and chorus teacher at Oak Glen Middle School and one of fewer than 30 National Board Certified Music Specialists in the state of West Virginia.
She also is a 2014 graduate of the Hartt School at the University of Hartford (Conn.), earning a master’s degree in music education.
Professor Keeling also is an alumnus of WLU and joined the university as faculty and director of choral activities in 2017.
He holds additional titles in the professional music world as the artistic director of Voces Solis, assistant conductor of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and music director of OvreArts.
The West Liberty University music program is nationally accredited by NASM, the National Association of Schools of Music, and is recognized for its award-winning faculty and staff.
Performance opportunities for music students at WLU include the Marching Hilltoppers, the Wind Symphony, WLU Singers, University Band, Choral Scholars, African Drumming and Dance Ensemble, Community Choir, Steel Bands, Hilltop Opera, Jazz Combos, Percussion Ensemble, and the Electronic Music Ensemble.
WLU’s Division of Music and Theater is housed within the College of Arts and Communication led by College Dean Dr. Matthew Harder. For complete information on the WLU Division of Music, please visit westliberty.edu/music or call 304-336-8006.