March 27, 2007

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- Michael Sumuel a senior voice performance major in Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music, won the Music Teachers National Association Young Artists Collegiate Voice Competition on March 25 in Toronto.

Sumuel, a baritone, is the first CSU student to capture first place in any category of this national-level competition. He was accompanied by pianist and CSU adjunct professor Janie Lee Bullock.

From Odessa, Texas, Sumuel also is a student of Professor Earl Coleman, CSU’s William and Isabelle Curry Distinguished Faculty Chair in Voice. “As Michael's teacher, I could be no prouder,” said Coleman. “He represented CSU at the highest level and I had some of the best known musicians in this country give me accolades on his performance.”

The MTNA competition is among the most highly ranked performance competitions in North America. For example, instrumental and chamber music winners represented the Eastman School of Music , the New England Conservatory, Florida State University and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.

Rex Whiddon, CSU director of major gifts and university stewardship, is a former president of the MTNA, a nonprofit organization of about 24,000 independent and collegiate music teachers.