Nov.

3, 2015
UT Choral Student Places Eighth in International Quartet Competition
KNOXVILLE University of Tennessee, Knoxville, senior Hailey Myatt joined a
barbershop music group last year after responding to a Facebook message from three
members searching for a bass singer to complete their quartet in St. Louis, Missouri.
After a week of Facebook messaging, Myatt booked a plane ticket to St. Louis and sang
with Heather Krones, Mary Duncan and Michaela Slamka for the first time. Their voices
and personalities clicked immediately, so the quartet began their journey as ClassRing
in March 2014.
Earlier this month, ClassRing placed eighth in the world at the Sweet Adelines
International Quartet Finals in Las Vegas. It was the quartets first time competing at the
international level.
Having the opportunity to compete at International was the most incredible experience,
Myatt said. Meeting with thousands and thousands of your friends from around the
world is like a giant family reunion.
The quartet placed second in the 2015 Sweet Adelines Regional competition with a
score high enough to qualify for one of 10 wildcard spots at the international
competition.
Myatt balanced her studies in vocal music education with twice a week ClassRing
rehearsals via Skype. The long-distance quartet met in person to rehearse every six to
eight weeks.
We are delighted to have our talented music education student Hailey Myatt represent
the School of Music. It is unprecedented that her quartet was able to achieve this honor
in their very first time at the International Competition, as it normally takes a number of
years as a group working together to place this highly, said Angela Batey, associate
director of the School of Music.

Myatt said she and her ClassRing sisters are still in shock after placing eighth out of
the 50 quartets that competed at the international level. There are about 950 quartets
around the world that perform and compete.
One of Myatts favorite memories from the international competition was hearing the
crowd go wild before their performance. The house was packed and our loved ones
were in the audience and watching from home on the webcast, she said. Support and
love like that cant be measured.
For Myatt, music has been a lifelong passion. She sang in the choir from the fifth grade
through her senior year at Wilson Central High School in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. In high
school, she sang in a vocal jazz group, womens ensemble and Sweet Adelines young
womens quartet.
Myatt hopes to continue competing with ClassRing and start her career as a vocal
music educator after graduation, but she will always cherish the memories of the
international competition.
Being a Sweet Adeline has certainly changed my life, she said.