Canton resident Victoria Hill, a Move on When Ready student at Reinhardt University, is clearly ready for her future as an opera singer, after earning the top prize in the prestigious Schmidt Vocal Competition.
Victoria, an 18-year-old dual enrollment student studying music and her general education requirements at RU, competed in and won the Schmidt Vocal Competition earlier this month at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Fla.
“It was very humbling to me to win because there were so many talented people in the competition,” Victoria said. “Upon winning, I was overwhelmed by my gratefulness to God for His goodness in my life.”
The Schmidt Vocal Competition is open to high school sophomores through seniors and is limited to 35 competitors.
Victoria’s voice teacher, Dr. Reverie Berger, assistant professor of voice in the Murray Department of Music, Reinhardt School of Performing Arts, said she is a determined student with a will to succeed.
“I couldn’t be more proud of Victoria and the hard work she’s put in to have such great success as both a dual-enrolled student and as a performer,” Berger said. “She is one of the most gifted and conscientious young women I’ve had the privilege to teach, and I’m so happy her diligence paid off in her win against a pool of very talented young singers.”
Victoria said the experience was surreal, especially when her name was announced as the winner because the competition was tough.
“When they began to announce third, second, I had assumed, based on the unbelievable talent, that I had just made the top 8. I was shocked to have heard my name called for first place and then receiving the $2,500 prize,” Victoria said, adding the process for the competition includes having three songs prepared.
“I sang ‘La Pastorella Delle Alpi,’ by Rossini, ‘Nuit D’etoiles’ by Debussy and ‘If I Loved You’ from Carousel,” Victoria said.
Her personal selection was “La Pastorella,” and the judges asked her to sing “If I Loved You.”
“If you make it to the final round, you then sing your third song that you haven’t sung and one other from your remaining two of your choice,” she said.
Victoria chose “Nuit D’etoiles” and then “La Pastorella” again.
Victoria will continue her high school and college studies as she grows in her music. She hopes to work in an opera company one day. For now, she will continue studying with Dr. Berger and the faculty of Reinhardt’s School of Performing and work on her general education requirements for the degree she will earn.
Victoria can be heard as a part of the 15th Anniversary Celebration of the Falany Performing Arts Center on Friday, Feb. 10. For tickets, please see www.reinhardt.edu/fpac or call (770) 720-9167.
