October 9, 2015 (Jackson, Miss.) - Music major Jessica Ziegelbauer won first place in the Student Artists Category of the Voices of Mississippi Competition. The Mississippi Opera hosted the top vocal artists in the state on September 27. “We heard awonderful array of opera and musical theatre selections and are pleased to announce the winners from an outstanding field of competitors,” said Mississippi Opera Artistic Director Jay Dean.
Ziegelbauer, originally from Houston, Texas, is 20 years old and has lived in the Metro-Jackson area for over ten years. She is a double major in music and arts administration.
She is currently recording her debut album, Lovely, which will include seven original songs. Along with singing, songwriting and playing guitar, she also has a passion for musical theatre and has been seen on stage in Belhaven's Godspell, Last Train to Nibroc, Into the Woods and Oklahoma! Her professional credits include Shrek: The Musical and Hairspray, both at New Stage Theatre in Jackson.
Other awards include a first place win at the Mississippi State Fair Talent Competition and first place win in the senior division of the musical theatre category at the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition.
The Mississippi Opera is hosting all of the top artists at the Voices of Mississippi Winners Concert tomorrow, October 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Belhaven University Center for the Arts.