This year’s National Student Auditions (NSA), an annual singing competition sponsored by the National Association of Teachers of Singing, welcomed another strong Walla Walla University singer to the live semifinals: Lauren Ellis, junior music and English major and iCantori performer.
Back in February, Ellis entered into the NW Regional NSA and sent in three video performances. After placing first in her division—lower college female voices, Musical Theatre—she moved on to the national round, where she placed in the top 15 in the country.
These 15 singers later met in San Antonio, Texas, in early July for the live semifinal rounds. While she didn’t quite make the top three, “She received encouraging and affirming comments from her three judges. I was very proud of her,” said Christine Janis, assistant professor of music.
“Performing in San Antonio was very daunting, but ultimately a very good experience,” said Ellis. She truly enjoyed getting the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience, especially after months of video auditions. “Having a live audience makes it much easier to tell the story of the song you're singing, as opposed to pre-recording without an audience, where you kind of have to manufacture the energy of a live performance.”
Though there were many factors, Ellis said Janis was the reason she got to go to San Antonio. Janis has expertise in both music and NSA performances, and she was there to help Ellis through every step of the process.
Jan Roberts played another crucial role as Ellis’ pianist and was a “very essential part of the process and was patient with me even when I kept forgetting the words while taping.”
Throughout the competition, Ellis performed "On the Steps of the Palace" from Into the Woods, "Crossing a Bridge" from Anastasia, and "Show Me" from My Fair Lady. Her judges provided her performances with very useful constructive criticism that she plans to focus on as she continues to study, “which is definitely worth the trip to San Antonio!” she said.
To learn more about the Department of Music and find other opportunities like this one, visit wallawalla.edu/music.
Posted Aug. 12, 2026.
