By Emily Holmes

Lindenwood student Nadia Maddex was selected as this year's St. Louis Symphony In Unison Scholar. This program is open for undergraduate students who are participating in the arts such as musicians, composers and music educators. Maddex is a vocalist and sings 1st soprano. According to Maddex, this is a great honor and it not only comes with a scholarship. “In that program, I am provided with mentoring from St. Louis Symphony staff, as well as given special performance, conference, workshop and leadership opportunities.”

Such a high honor does not go without hard work and dedication. Maddex had to put in many hours behind the scenes in order to achieve such recognition and she believes that is her hard work that led her to become this year’s scholar. “Last year, I was named the In Unison young artist for the St. Louis Symphony. I performed with the chorus as a first soprano and was given solo opportunities in the "A Gospel Christmas" and the "Lift Every Voice" concerts.” Maddex believes that this dedication to the chorus during her first year helped her to become one of the four scholars.

Maddex is a vocal music education major with a musical theatre minor who is always seeking new opportunities that could help her learn and become a better performer. Maddex is incredibly grateful for her education at Lindenwood, the Lindenwood Music department and for having the opportunity to have the supervision of Kevin Mcbeth. “There is a conference every year called MMEA which is the Missouri Music Educators association Conference. At this conference, I am given the opportunity to network with other educators, go to workshops and learn more about music education, which is my field of study.” Even though this conference is mostly for older students, Maddex was pushed to go as a freshman, and she feels as though that is one of the things that really set her apart from others.

Aside from this stellar achievement, on campus Maddex is involved in the Black Student Union, is the Secretary of NAfME, the President of ACDA, National Society for leadership and Success, Community Advisor in Pfremmer hall, the assistant director of Voices Only, participated in the Spring musical "Urinetown" by playing Penelope Pennywise, and she is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.