MIDCOAST — Emma Hallundbaek, an alumna of Camden Hills Regional High School who grew up in Lincolnville, received first place honors in her category at the 2021 Maine NATS Classical Student singing competition.

The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), a nonprofit association that promotes the highest standards in the teaching of singing, offers annual competitions and programs designed to showcase talented singers and performers who are soon to be rising stars in the profession. 

Hallundbaek received first place in Division IV, representing ages 18-20 in the state of Maine.

A mezzo-soprano majoring in vocal performance at the University of Southern Maine’s School of Music, Hallundbaek began singing publicly at the age of 6, performed in CHRHS choirs, All-State and ACDA festivals, and was featured in Down East Singers holiday performances throughout high school.

Currently entering senior year of college, she is vice president of the USM Chamber Singers and recently performed in Mozart’s The Magic Flute.

Emma has been a voice student of Tony Antolini PhD, director of the Down East Singers, and Christina Astrachan of Bowdoin and USM.

“It is not enough to be talented and have a gorgeous voice like Emma does,” said Astrachan, in a news release. “You must show up to work on it diligently under any circumstances. And Emma has risen to this challenge through the most trying times. Being a student in a pandemic is hard enough, let alone when you are a vocal performance major, forced to work mostly on your own in your dorm or sing and perform with a mask and socially distanced from your peers. My heartfelt congratulations.”

Hallundbaek’s representative performances, including Die Manacht by Brahms, Chanson D’Amour by Faure, and Dido’s Lament by Purcell, plus information about other winners and contestants in Maine, can be found at the NATS Maine Chapter page on Facebook.