07/08/16 sds
HAYS, Kan. -- Two students from the voice studio of Dr. Joseph Perniciaro, associate professor of music, will represent Fort Hays State University in the semi-finals of the National Student Auditions sponsored by the National Association of Teachers of Singing this summer in Chicago.

Clayton Capra, a Dighton senior majoring in music education, will compete as a baritone in the upper division levels of the classical and musical theatre men's categories.

Hayley Shoemaker, a music performance major from Quinter, will compete in the upper division of the women's classical category.

The students are ranked among the top 14 regional winners across the country and have completed four levels of competition. They are the first students of Perniciaro to qualify for the national semi-finals. He has previously had students qualify for the preliminary national round.