Ouachita Stories

Once again it is time for Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Fine Arts to host Festival of Christmas. The annual event will be held on Dec. 3-4 at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center. Tickets are on sale now for $8 each at www.obu.edu/finearts. Ouachita students receive one free admission with their student ID.

This year’s show will include many of the same numbers as past years along with a new African piece featuring percussion as well as a new arrangement of “Sleigh Ride.” The production involves several groups from the Division of Music including Concert Choir, Women’s Chorus, Ouachita Sounds and Ouachita Singers.

“We try to showcase all of the divisions of music from instrumental to vocal,” said Dr. Gary Gerber, chair of the division.

Gerber began preparing for Festival of Christmas in July with the selection of the songs. Once the program had been put together, the different groups began practicing the first week in October.

“The format is the same, and we try to keep it that way because it really seems to work well,” Gerber said. “It is basically a Christmas show that starts out with traditional secular songs and concludes with sacred songs.”

“My favorite part of Festival of Christmas is the music,” said Leslyn Ichter, a senior music education major from Conway, Ark. “I like repeating some old favorites.”

In order to keep the show exciting each year, different songs are rotated in and out of the set list. At the same time, specific songs are kept each year.

“We have ended with the dramatic and powerful ‘O Holy Night’ for several years, so it has become a tradition,” Gerber said.

For many participating students, this year’s performances will not be their first, nor will it be their last. Mark Bartels, a junior church music major from Henderson, Texas, will be part of the show’s movers and shakers, a group of students who perform dance numbers and choreography during the songs.

“I love seeing all the children that attend get excited when we come out,” Bartels said.

This will be Bartels’ third year performing in Festival of Christmas and his second year performing as one of the movers and shakers. Bartels described the atmosphere each year as being full of anticipation and excitement for the Christmas season.

For Gerber, the best part of the performance is seeing the students enjoying themselves on stage. He said he feels that it is a wonderful time to be on Ouachita’s campus and experience the Christmas season.

Tickets may be purchased at www.obu.edu/finearts or by calling or visiting the OBU Box Office from 1-5 p.m. on weekdays. Contact the box office at (870) 245-5563. For more information about Festival of Christmas, contact Dr. Gary Gerber at [email protected].

By Korrie Browning