(BIRMINGHAM, AL) Central Magnet School senior Rachel Alexandra Oppmann placed first in the 2024 Musical Theatre Regional Competition. The event occurred last Saturday (3/9/2024) at the Hulsey Fine Arts Center at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

The 18-year-old Murfreesboro student performed “The Party’s Over” from The Bells Are Ringing, as well as “I’m Breaking Down” from In Trousers. She also did a monologue from Stuck.

As a part of Oppmann’s live audition for the competition, she was required to learn and the execute a movement sequence to “Hot Honey Rag” from Chicago—all choreographed by Alabama Ballet Associate Artistic Director Roger Van Fleteren.

The first prize award includes $1,500 cash, and an all expense paid trip to the National Finals in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois on May 16 – 19, 2024. The top prize in that competition is $15,000.

As you recall, last month Central Magnet School student Rachel Oppmann of Murfreesboro was awarded The Congressional Award Gold Medal, Congress’ highest honor for civilian youth. This medal honors youth for their commitment to voluntary public service, as well as personal development and physical fitness.

Rachel is the daughter of Elise and Andrew Oppmann and is a senior at Central Magnet School. She currently plans to continue her education at MTSU in the Fall 2024 as a double major in mechatronics engineering and theatre.

She has two older sisters: Emily, a 2021 MTSU graduate who is a genetic counselor for Inova Health System near Washington D.C., and Sarah, a 2023 MTSU graduate who is a visual storyteller for WBIR-Channel 10 in Knoxville.