Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music will host vocalist Caitlin Secrest in concert Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 7:30 p.m. in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. Secrest’s performance is part of university’s guest artist series. The concert is free and open to the public.

A native of Arkadelphia, Secrest graduated from Ouachita in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance. She is in her sixth season performing in shows in Branson, Mo., including Thank You For The Music: A Modern Tribute to ABBA, Beach Boys’ California Dreamin’, Comedy Jamboree, Broadway’s Greatest Hits, Anthems of Rock and Sinatra & Friends.

“It’s always fun to welcome our alumni back to campus,” said Dr. Jon Secrest, Addie Mae Maddox Professor of Music at Ouachita. “It gives them an opportunity to come home and share the wealth of knowledge they have accumulated since graduating.” He also is Caitlin’s father and former voice teacher, along with his wife, Dr. Glenda Secrest, professor of music.

Secrest will perform a variation of musical genres, beginning her program with Andrew Lippa’s “Raise the Roof” from Wild Party, followed by Lori Laitman’s “Dreaming”; Gaetano Donizetti’s “O luce di quest'anima” from Linda di Chamounix; “Loving is as Easy,” “Please, Kind Sir” and “Nellie is a Nice Girl” from P.D.Q. Bach’s The Art of the Ground Round; Clark Gesner’s “New Philosophy” from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; “Make Your Own Party,” “Out of Love” and “Boom Boom,” by Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich;  “A Love Song” by Kenny Loggins and Dona Lyn George Wails; Pat Benatar’s “Heartbreaker” by Cliff Wade and Geoff Gill; Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” by John Deacon; and Alan Menken’s “The Life I Never Led” from Sister Act. To conclude, Secrest will end the concert with “A Word on my Ear” by Michael Flanders and Donald Swann.

“She chose a repertoire that is diverse and crosses genre lines on purpose,” Dr. Jon Secrest said. “She has programmed art songs, arias, music theatre repertoire, classic rock and pop to show students the need for them to possess a flexible skill set and the ability to be adaptive if they want to work in the performance industry.”

Secrest will be assisted by Phyllis Walker, staff accompanist, on piano and Dr. Bruce Johnston, lecturer in music, on string bass and guitar.

For more information about the concert, contact Dr. Jon Secrest at [email protected] or at (870) 245-5134.

• Tags:
• Division of Music
• Guest Artist Series
• School of Fine Arts