Ouachita to host annual Shambarger Competition for Singers on Feb. 22
February 17, 2011 - Rudy Jones
Ouachita Baptist University’s Vocal Studies Program will hold its 13th annual Mary Shambarger Competition for Singers on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m. in
McBeth Recital Hall on the Ouachita campus.
Open to Ouachita voice principals in their fourth semester of study or beyond, the
competition features a repertoire that rotates annually among selections from musical
theatre, arias from opera and oratorio, and art songs.
The Shambarger Competition is held each year to honor Mary Shambarger, professor emerita
of music, who served as a professor and vocal instructor on Ouachita’s music faculty
for 32 years. Shambarger was influential in the formation of the Ouachita-Tones, an
all-female singing ensemble, which she later restructured into what is now known as
the Ouachita Sounds, a smaller ensemble of male and female students.
“It’s really a scintillating afternoon,” said Dr. Jon Secrest, OBU professor of music.
“For this event, our voice students put their best foot forward. We hear some incredible
performances.”
The generous prize money made available by Shambarger encourages students to present
their work in the most professional way possible. The first-place winner will receive
a $500 award; second place will receive $300; third place will receive $200; fourth
place will receive $100 and honorable mention will receive $50. This year, each student
will be performing an aria from an opera or oratorio.
Shambarger remains involved in the competition by serving as one of three adjudicators.
Joining her again this year is Dr. Charles Wright, former dean of Ouachita’s School
of Fine Arts, and, for the first time, Maestro Marc Andre Bougie, conductor of the
Texarkana Symphony Orchestra.
“Frankly, I am amazed at the level of teaching that goes on here and the accomplishment
that is demonstrated by our students,” Secrest said. “Sometimes I wonder if people
on our campus realize what a fantastic vocal area we have.”
Participants in the competition include: Brooke Ault, a senior musical theatre major
from Little Rock, Ark.; Joel Coleman, a sophomore music theory and composition major
from Hot Springs, Ark.; Katie Edenfield, a senior vocal performance major from Cypress,
Texas; Hannah Garner, a sophomore vocal performance major from Saginaw, Mich.; Rachel
Harris, a junior double major in musical theatre and vocal performance from Springdale,
Ark.; Sarah Beth Hill, a senior church music major from El Dorado, Ark.; Elisabeth
Hipp, a senior vocal performance major from Memphis, Tenn.; Breanna Holder, a sophomore
church music major from El Dorado, Ark.; Christian Ichter, a sophomore music major
from Katy, Texas; Grace Johnson, a junior vocal performance major from Tyler, Texas;
Xavier Lagunas, a junior musical theatre major from Arlington, Texas; Andrew Miller,
a senior vocal performance major from Dalworthington Gardens, Texas; Bethany Swiontek,
a sophomore musical theatre major from Colorado Springs, Colo.; Maggie Taylor, a senior
choral music education major from Russellville, Ark.; John Tneoh, a sophomore vocal
performance major from Sungai Petani, Malaysia; Jacob Watson, senior musical theatre
major from Wynne, Ark.; Sean Wilson, a senior vocal performance major from Spotsylvania,
Va.; and James Wood, a sophomore music and mass communications major from Overland
Park, Kan.
These students will be accompanied by OBU staff accompanists Phyllis Walker of Arkadelphia,
Ark.; Susan Monroe of Arkadelphia, Ark.; and John Briggs of Hot Springs, Ark.
The competition is held the last Tuesday of February each year. The event is free
and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Jon Secrest at [email protected] or (870) 245-5134.
By Rudy Jones
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