Posted on January 31, 2002 at 3:15 p.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Two University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) music students won awards at the Alabama Federation of Music Clubs annual vocal competition, held Saturday, Jan. 19, at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa. The competition was open to all music major undergraduate students in the state.

Senior Josef McClellan was the first place winner in the male voice division, earning a prize of $1,000. McClellan, a vocal performance major, has studied for three years with Rachel Mathes, D.M.A., director of UAB Opera. For the competition, McClellan sang the aria “Che gelida manina” from Puccini's “La Boheme,” Alexandre Georges’ “Hymne au soleil,” and the recitative and aria “Deeper and Deeper Still ...Waft Her, Angels” from Handel’s “Jephtha.” McClellan, originally from Addison, is the son of William and Dee McClellan of Oneonta.

Junior Merissa Braden was the second place winner in the female voice division, earning a prize of $600. Braden, a vocal performance and pre-med double major, has studied for two years with Mathes. Braden sang “Let My Song Fill Your Heart” by Ernest Charles, the aria “Mi chiamano Mimi” from Puccini's “La Boheme” and “Chanson triste” by Duparc. Braden is the daughter of Johnny and Marcie Braden of Mountain Brook.

McClellan and Braden were featured in UAB Opera’s 2001 production of “La Boheme,” performed at the Alys Stephens Center. The competition judges were James Taylor from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, voice and opera faculty; Monica Zerbe from the University of Montevallo, voice faculty; and Mark Brown from Shelton State Community College, voice faculty.

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	Image Size: 1,167 pixels by 1,757 pixels (3.8" by 5.8") Resolution: 300 dpi Format: JPEG (RGB) File Size: 764 KB Download Now! Caption: UAB senior Josef McClellan and UAB junior Merissa Braden were recently featured in UAB Opera’s 2001 production of “La Boheme." McClellan was the first place winner in the male voice division and Braden was the second place winner in the female voice division.
	Image Size: 1,171 pixels by 1,769 pixels (3.9" by 5.9") Resolution: 300 dpi Format: JPEG (RGB) File Size: 810 KB Download Now! Caption: UAB senior Josef McClellan and UAB junior Merissa Braden were recently featured in UAB Opera’s 2001 production of “La Boheme." McClellan was the first place winner in the male voice division and Braden was the second place winner in the female voice division.