Westermark Voice Studio

08/19/2024

I’m ready for Back to School! I have just a few openings left!

07/24/2024

Thanks to Renee Spencer at the Star News for covering Chase’s third place win at National NATS!

Chase Barnette started singing when he was 4 years old, but he didn't get serious about it until a year ago. Now, he plans to make it career.

06/30/2024

I’ve been so excited and impressed with the National Association of Teachers of Singing Conference in Knoxville this year! My fellow singers and teachers are so progressive and inclusive! I’ve attended a lecture from a National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) where the Teacher and trans Singer student talked about the journey of transion with Testosterone.

Then NATS members got to preview a documentary about world renowned Lucia Lucas entitled “The Identity of Sound”. This is a documentary film of Don Giovanni Production in Tulsa OK starring trans woman Lucia Lucas as title role. Such a fabulous documentary. I was crying. Done so well with insight and authenticity. Documentary will be released soon!
I was able to share my with allies, advocates, and social justice warriors.

I also learned more about intersectionality by Dr. Robbins from Utah.

It’s been such an amazing conference!! My heart and mind is full.

06/29/2024

Chase Barnette placed third in the country at the National Association of Teachers of Singing Conference last night for High School Men!! What a wonderful and inspiring experience! He only began voice lessons this past August and has been such a joy to teach. He will attend ECU in the Fall with a full scholarship in Music 🎵! NC Nats National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) I’m so incredibly proud of his hard work and determination!! It’s such a privilege to get to work with such hard working and dedicated students! Chase’s parents have been so wonderfully supportive as well. Both of them were music majors in college.

06/28/2024

My student Chase Barnette just made it to finals at the National Level at the NC Nats Conference in Knoxville. He is one of three in the whole US to make it this far!! Congratulations Chase!!! I’m so proud of you and all your hard work!!

06/28/2024

Had a lovely time with Ayumi Nakamae for breakfast at the Frothy Monkey. Ayume and I are attending the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) summer conference in Knoxville. NC Nats (We are all standing—my son is tall—so even my 6’ tall husband looks small)

06/22/2024

Next week I travel to Knoxville, Tennessee to attend the National Association of Teachers of Singing National Conference where my student Chase Barnette was one of 15 High School men chosen to compete in this final round for Classical Singing.

Press Release:
Recent High School Graduate and baritone, Chase Barnette, has been selected to compete at the National Level of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Auditions in Classical Singing. This past spring Chase placed third in the North Carolina state level, first in the Mid-Atlantic Regional level and was one of 15 young men chosen to advance to the National Level from a very competitive pool of 1000 high school men. He will travel to Knoxville, Tennessee along with voice his teacher, Sara Westermark, to compete at the NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) National Convention on Thursday, June 27th. This is the second student that Sara Westermark has had qualify for the National Level since NATS added the national level competition eight years ago. Lucy Baker qualified for NATS Nationals in 2017 and now sings with the Chicago Lyric Opera House in the young artist program.

Chase Barnette, a Wilmington native, recently graduated from Coastal Christian High School and received a full music scholarship to study voice at East Carolina University in the Fall. He received the Dave Hardee Scholarship for Vocal Performing from the Wilmington Choral Society and was invited to participate on a Masterclass at Regional NATS Conference held at Furman University. He is an Eagle Scout and played varsity in both basketball and track and field for Coastal Christian.

Chase will sing
“The Vagabond” from Songs of Travel by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
“Non siate ritrosi” from Così fan tutte by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
“La mi sola, Laureola” from Canciones clásicas españolas by Fernando Obradors (1897-1945)

To learn more about The National Association of Teachers of Singing please visit
https://www.nats.org/competitions.html

For more about local voice teacher Sara Westermark visit
www.westermarkvoice.com

06/01/2024

This amazing group of singers gave a wonderful recital featuring mostly duets. Everyone has improved tremendously this year. I am so proud!

03/10/2024

This, this is why I teach. This student comes to learn crafts and she left this gift on my porch for Women’s Day. I cried.

03/09/2024

Congratulations to Chase Barnette who placed First at Regionals NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and qualified for Nationals!

03/09/2024

Congratulations to Caroline Braza who placed 5th and qualified for National NATS!

02/18/2024

Congratulations to my students who competed at the State Level of NATS this year at UNC Charlotte. Five will go on to Regionals.
Caroline Braza, 1st place
Nilin Pavate, 5th place
Tamma Svecharnik, 3rd place
Chase Barnette, 3rd place
Manasi Prasad, 5th Place
Naomi Helms and Aparna Dhulipala also sang beautifully. I’m so proud of all of my students, they are wonderful! (I don’t know where the boys were when we went to photograph them)

01/25/2024

Seniors here’s a scholarship opportunity

Applications are open for the Jerry S. Cribbs Scholarship for Vocal Music and Music Education! The scholarship is intended for any graduating senior from New Hanover, Pender, or Brunswick County who plans to pursue a college degree in choral music education and/or vocal performance. Funds for the scholarship are raised by the membership of Chorale, who are committed to investing in the future of the art that we love. The audition for the scholarship will be held on Tuesday, March 19. The application closes on March 12.

Apply here > https://capefearchorale.squarespace.com/jerry-s-cribbs-scholarship

12/23/2023

I’m so grateful that I get to perform with such talented musicians!! Tanya Hanano James Taylor Hans Graham Westermark, John Sullivan and Spencer Deschenes with special guest Nilin Pavate, treble. What a joy it was to perform with my son. My heart is full. Thank you to everyone who came and helped us raise money for A Safe Place.

12/11/2023

I heartily invite you to the 3rd annual Classical Christmas Concert featuring such talented musicians as James Taylor, Tanya Hanano, John Sullivan, Spencer Deschenes, myself and introducing my son Hans Graham Westermark, and treble Nilin Pavate. Please join us for this free concert, and if the spirit moves you, we will collect donation for A Safe Place. I’d be so grateful and honored if you attended and shared this post. Hans Westermark.

11/26/2023

Off to see Donizetti’s “Daughter of the Regiment” tonight. Tomorrrow we will see Janáček’s Jenůfa with our hometown favorite Lucy Baker singing! 🎶

11/25/2023

We are nearly in Chicago to see former student and hometown favorite Lucy Baker sing with the Lyric opera of Chicago as Karolka for Jenůfa tomorrow!

11/05/2023

Congratulations to former student Spencer DesChenes on her recent performance with Austin opera in Pagliacci!!

10/31/2023

Happy Halloween! 🎃

10/23/2023

Former student Lucy Baker recently graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music with her Master’s in Voice Performance. Here’s a clip of her singing. Her voice is so supple and lyric and her acting is engaging and precise. Way to go Lucy!!

Check out Curtisinstitute's video.

09/08/2023

Former student Lucy Baker gets high praise in the press for her performance at the Chicago Lyric Young Artist’s Showcase!! Brava Lucy! You are on fire!

https://seenandheard-international.com/2023/08/a-joyful-preview-of-the-upcoming-season-at-lyric-opera-of-chicago/?fbclid=IwAR2QZJdzTYpjtafAVHHwqQV8OV9LFHgYCkF_agF4EphBGwIrAmRAAJpIcSQ_aem_AYlLTjdQWNFHsvLKJGBSQuRNQcRw87F3f4QxPGa1VV53LPf3kfo_aS7qYGhN7NoVTO0&mibextid=Zxz2cZ