Northwest Fine Arts hosts Phantom Masterclass

by Jennifer Griffith

Senatobia, MS (10/11/2022) — Northwest Mississippi Community College welcomed internationally renowned vocalist and stage performer David Gaschen to campus Wednesday evening October 5th for a special performance to celebrate the inaugural season of the Northwest Center for the Performing Arts. Gaschen then lead a masterclass on campus for choral and musical theater students on Thursday, October 6th.

Gaschen's masterclass offered insight into the musical theater industry, how to build confidence, and how to tell the story written within a musical performance. He left students with this thought: "I want you to think about not being the best singer in the room. I want you to think about being the best actor who happens to sing in the room. No matter what you do in the production... it's a story."

Six Northwest vocalists participated in mock auditions with Gaschen to learn tips on how to ace the audition process. Students were: Abby Frances Zarback of Southaven, Mississippi; Seth Matlock, of Nesbit, Mississippi; Ally Wideman of Hernando, Mississippi; Savannah Flores of Brandon, Mississippi; Macy Gallimore of Southaven, Mississippi; and Summer Watson of Hernando, Mississippi.

Gaschen is a vocalist and stage performer best known for the years he devoted to the title character in The Phantom of the Opera. Gaschen graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in vocal performance. At age 26, Gaschen had become history's youngest performer cast as the Phantom in a professional production. All told, he has performed the role of the Phantom in professional productions worldwide more than 1,300 times.

To learn more about Northwest and its programs and pathways, please visit www.northwestms.edu.