Shabnam Kalbasi (MM, ’12) won first place and the “Artist of the Year” award in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Young Artist Competition. Kalbasi was awarded cash plus a professional recital. She also won the Brentwood-Westwood Symphony Orchestra Competition, and was the only singer to win. Included in her win was a concert with the Symphony Orchestra in its 60th season.