Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University will host the Ouachita Saxophone and Double Reeds Ensembles in a recital Monday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m. in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall on OBU’s campus.

The recital will include performances by the Ouachita Saxophone Orchestra, the Ouachita Saxophone Quartet and the Double Reeds Ensemble. Keeping the same format as years past, the recital will offer a variety of music from jazz to classical.

“This year has been most exciting for me as the director of these ensembles,” said Dr. Caroline Taylor. “Our students are performing standard literature with such a high degree of musicianship that I expect this to be the best performance yet by these students.” Taylor serves as professor of music at Ouachita and director of Ouachita’s saxophones and double reeds studio.

The Ouachita Saxophone Quartet recently performed at the 33^rd International Saxophone Symposium at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. “This is a highly prestigious conference,” Taylor said. “Only 25 college quartets were selected across the country. This was a huge honor for our quartet to be invited.”

Sixteen Ouachita students will be performing pieces at the recital that they have been preparing throughout the semester.

The saxophone students who are performing include: John Ashburn, a junior instrumental music education major from Monroe, La.; Allan Bateman, a freshman music theory and composition major from Perryville, Ark.; Marshall Butler, a business administration major from Cabot, Ark.; Alex Goff, a sophomore music theory and composition major from Nashville, Ark.; Jordan Henry, a senior instrumental music education major from Greenbrier, Ark.; Alissa Hill, a junior instrumental music education major from Bella Vista, Ark.; Bradley Lindsey, a freshman instrumental music education major from Longview, Texas; Brian Matney, a junior instrumental music education major from Gravette, Ark.; and Cyrus Morris, a junior music performance major from Katy, Texas.

The double reeds students who are performing include: Michael Curtis, a freshman music major from Wylie, Texas; Paul Huenefeld, a junior church music major from Pine Bluff, Ark.; Brandi Hull, a sophomore instrumental music education major from Longview, Texas; Erica Porter, a freshman mass communications major from Azle, Texas; C.J. Santiago, a freshman mass communications major from Little Rock, Ark.; Darlene Seal, a senior Christian studies major with emphases in Christian missions and Biblical studies; and Jonathan Stockman, a senior English major from Fayette, Ala. Alex Goff will perform with both groups.

The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the School of Fine Arts at (870) 245-5129.

By Tara Davidson