Student earns award at New Orleans vocal competition
Friday, October 20, 2017 
by: Rene Abadie
TALENTED SENIOR – William N. Dopp, a senior at Loranger High School, practices under the direction of Southeastern Professor Stephen Rushing. Dopp, who participates in the university’s Gifted and Talented Youth Program, recently earned second place in the Wood Vocal Competition held in New Orleans.
HAMMOND – A Loranger High School student enrolled in Southeastern Louisiana University’s
Gifted and Talented Youth Program won second place in the Donald W. Wood Sr. Vocal
Competition held recently in New Orleans.
William N. Dopp, 18, a LSH senior and vocal student working under Southeastern
Professor of Vocal Arts Stephen Rushing, performed “The Vagabond” by Vaughan Williams
in the first round. In the second round, he sang “Gute Nacht” by Franz Schubert.
Rushing said Dopp is an excellent student with great potential. Last year, Dopp
placed first in the Wood Vocal Competition, which is a collaboration of the New Orleans
Opera Association, Loyola University College of Music and Fine Arts, the Tulane University
Department of Music, and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. Started in 2015,
the Wood Competition promotes artistic excellence and provides financial support to
young vocalists.
Dopp, who was awarded $500 in the competition, has taken courses for college
credit at Southeastern for the past two years and plans to attend Southeastern next
fall to pursue his degree in vocal performance.
“Dr. Rushing is a phenomenal teacher and has worked with me for the past year,”
said Dopp.
The Southeastern Gifted and Talented Youth Program allows students to earn college
credit while still in high school. Participants are selected based on high intellectual
or creative abilities and demonstrated maturity to achieve in an adult competitive
setting.
