SELINSGROVE - Joshua Druckenmiller, of Paxinos, was named a semi-finalist in the junior men category at the annual singing competition of the National Association of Teachers of Singing's Allegheny Mountain chapter, held Oct. 27 at Lebanon Valley College.
A junior music major at Susquehanna University, Druckenmiller is a 2010 graduate of Shamokin Area High School and a son of Robert and Diana Druckenmiller.
Voice majors from the university's department of music dominated the competition, claiming 11 wins in nine categories - more than the next two highest-scoring schools combined - and earning 10 semifinalist spots, as well.
"This was such a gratifying experience for our students, for them to learn where they stand among their peers and to emerge so strongly," said David Steinau, associate professor of music. "It takes a lot of nerve to allow your voice to be judged by others. I think this experience helped to build a lot of confidence in our singers."
More than 150 students from eight schools in central Pennsylvania competed, including Dickinson College, Elizabethtown College, Franklin & Marshall, Gettysburg College, Lebanon Valley College, Mansfield University, Messiah College and Penn State University. Faculty members from participating schools served as judges, but only for rounds in which their own students weren't competing.
Susquehanna will send its winners and semifinalists to the regional competition at Ithaca College in March, where leading music schools from throughout the northeastern United States and Canada will compete.