Louise Block Wins Third Place at National Student Auditions
July 10, 2026
Sewanee student Louise Block, C'28, won third place in the national finals of the National Student Auditions (NSA) at the 2026 National Conference of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), the premier professional organization of American voice teachers. The conference and Auditions took place in San Antonio from July 3 to 7. Block was one of only 16 national semifinalists for her category, Classical 1st- & 2nd-year Collegiate Treble, and advanced as one of just three national finalists.
Each year, over 10,000 singers compete in NATS events which serve as qualifiers for the NSA. Prior to the Nationals, and as part of the qualifying process, Block won her category at the Mid-South regional auditions of NATS, which took place in March on the Austin Peay State University campus in Clarksville, Tennessee. Five other Sewanee students also represented the College's music program in the regional competition.
For the competition, Block prepared and offered three musical selections from the art song repertoire: "The Faithless Shepherdess" by English composer Roger Quilter, "Amor dormiglione" by Baroque Italian composer Barbara Strozzi, and "Automne" by French composer Gabriel Fauré.
Block is a music major and a voice student of Associate Professor of Voice Kerry Ginger. In addition to winning the 2026 Mid-South Regional NATS auditions, Block was also voted first place at the Sewanee Symphony Orchestra's 2025 Christmas in the Caverns Sing-Off. She recently presented on French Baroque opera at Scholarship Sewanee. Block has been a recipient of grants and awards from the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship, the University Choir, and the Music Department.
