Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Fine Arts will present choral music education majors Leslyn Ichter and Maggie Taylor in their senior recital Friday, Oct. 1, at 11 a.m. in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall on Ouachita’s campus.

The students are presenting the recital as a requirement for their bachelor of music education degrees, and it serves as a culmination of their four years of study.

“This recital is very important to me not only because I have to do it to complete my degree,” said Taylor, “but because it’s a time where I can show my family and friends what I’ve been working on for the past four years of college.”

“All of the songs I picked relate to experiences I’ve had in college in some way,” Ichter added.

Ichter, a soprano from Conway, Ark., has been a finalist and semifinalist at both the state and regional National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competitions. She earned honorable mention in the Trinity Presents Collegiate Performance Showcase and was the selected soloist for the OBU Jazz Band for two years as well as for the Ouachita Concert Choir’s presentation of “Carmina Burana.” Ichter has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s Lists and has been a recipient of Ouachita music scholarships and endowments.

Taylor, a mezzo-soprano from Russellville, Ark., has been a semifinalist at the state NATS competition, a member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Honor Choir and a finalist in Ouachita’s Shambarger Competition for Singers. She has served as Tri Chi Women’s Social Club vice president and has been a recipient of Ouachita music and band scholarships.

Ichter and Taylor performed as Tiger Tunes hostesses together, an experience that catalyzed their friendship.

“Leslyn and I have become best friends throughout our college career, and we have always wanted to do our recital together,” Taylor said. “Our last piece, ‘For Good,’ has special significance because we actually saw the musical ‘Wicked’ together last summer. Because we are best friends, we felt like this piece was appropriate to finish the recital.”

“It has been wonderful to work on this recital with Maggie,” Ichter agreed. “It’s really neat that we get to do our senior recitals together.”

“Working with Leslyn has been a blessing just because it has strengthened our friendship even more the past few months,” Taylor added. “I am so thankful for this opportunity to sing with her.”

Taylor will open the recital with “Una Voce Poco Fa” from Gioachino Rossini’s “Il barbiere di Siviglia,” and Ichter will follow with “Extase” from Henri Duparc’s “L’Invitation au Voyage.” Taylor will then perform “Dan un bois solitaire” by Mozart, and Ichter will follow with “Kommt ein Schlanker Bursch gegangen” from Carl Maria von Weber’s “Der Freischütz.” Taylor will present “Breit über mein Haupt” by Richard Strauss and “Jesu, joy of man’s desiring” by J.S. Bach. Ichter will then perform “Donde lieta uscì” from Giacomo Puccini’s “La bohème.” Taylor will conclude the foreign language portion of the recital with “Tu il cuor mi strazi” from Giacomo Puccini’s “Edgar.”

Ichter will open the contemporary portion of the recital with “Billie’s Blues” by Billie Holiday, and Taylor will follow with Tom Snow’s “Can You Find It in Your Heart?” from “Footloose.” As their final solo selections, Ichter will perform “Letting You Go” by Jason Robert Brown, and Taylor will perform “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park” by Tom Lehrer.

The two will conclude the recital with Stephen Schwartz’ “For Good” from “Wicked.”

Ichter is a student of Dr. Glenda Secrest, OBU professor of music, and Suzetta Glenn, OBU adjunct lecturer in music. She will be accompanied by Susan Monroe. Taylor is a student of Mary Worthen, OBU assistant professor of music, who will also accompany her.

The recital is free and open to the public. A reception will follow the performance in Hammons Gallery. For more information, contact the School of Fine Arts at (870) 245-5129.

By Brooke Zimny