Whitewater Times

Maranatha’s Music Department has announced the winners of this year’s Vocal Commencement Contest. The adjudicator for the contest was Brian Leeper, who had glowing remarks for the participants.

In first place, Jonathan Andrews emerged victorious with his performances of "The Whole Darkness Shall Cover the Earth" by Handel, and "Non e Ver" by Mattei. Andrews, a Mathematics Major and a Church Music Minor, showcased his talent with the accompaniment of Ruth Brown and Joe Rincon.

Accompanied by Grace VanRaden, Benjamin Trueblood secured the runner-up position with his renditions of "If God So Clothe the Grass" by Bischoff and "Bist Du Bei Mir" by Stötzel. Trueblood, a Humanities Major and a Church Music Minor, demonstrated his musical prowess in the competition.

Following the competition, Brian Leeper expressed his admiration for the participants, stating, "I appreciate the preparation that all the soloists put into their selections. The overall quality was simply amazing. You are doing great vocal work here at Maranatha. Thank you all for your commitment to the art! The pianists all deserve kudos as well."

Brian Leeper, the adjudicator of the contest, holds music degrees from Luther College and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. With two decades of experience at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Leeper is known for his expertise in studio voice, opera workshops, and choral conducting. He has also shared his talents as a soloist and clinician across various countries and served in leadership roles within the music education community.

The winners of the Vocal Commencement Contest, along with the Instrumental and Piano Contest winners, will have the opportunity to showcase their talents in a professional video recording scheduled for Wednesday.