Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Sounds and Tiger Blast, billed as two of Ouachita Baptist University’s most dynamic performing groups, will present a joint concert Friday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m. in OBU’s Jones Performing Arts Center. The show will feature selections from the hit television show “Glee,” and tickets are $5 each.

“This is going to be my first concert as director of Sounds, and I’m very excited about it,” said Dr. Maggie Garrett, OBU assistant professor of music. “We are looking forward to singing with Tiger Blast.”

Ouachita Sounds, an eight-member audition-only ensemble of men and women, will perform choreographed selections from “Glee” such as “Sweet Caroline,” “Faithfully” and “Hello, Goodbye” as well as medleys of tunes from Footloose and the Supremes. They will also perform a set of sacred favorites, including “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross/How Deep the Father’s Love,” “Desert Song,” “Revelation Song” and “Hosanna.”

Senior history major Bethany Whitfield, a second-year member of the group, said she always looks forward to the Spring concert, as it is an opportunity for the group to present an evening of fun, entertaining music.

Tiger Blast, under the direction of Dr. Robert Hesse, is a performance-based instrumental ensemble drawing from marching band and color guard techniques. They will present a wide selection of popular music including “Bad Romance,” “Grenade,” Firework,” “I Don’t Wanna Stop,” “Ain’t Nothing Wrong with That,” “Thumb Drum,” “I’m Yours,” “Squirm” and “Shake Me Like a Monkey.” For the sacred portion of the concert, they will perform “Hallelujah” and “He Reigns.”

In addition to Whitfield, a Bryant, Ark., native, members of Ouachita Sounds include: Jake Coffman, a freshman music major from Tyronza, Ark.; Rachel Harris, a junior musical theatre major from Springdale, Ark.; DeCarl Jones, a freshman vocal performance major from Rowlett, Texas; Michelle Lackey, a sophomore musical theatre major from Decatur, Texas; Daniel McFarlin, a sophomore business administration and management major from Dallas, Texas; Alexis Pace, a sophomore musical theatre major from Sugar Land, Texas; and John Tneoh, a sophomore vocal performance major from Sungai Petani, Malaysia. Ian Olmsted, a freshman pre-medicine major from Perryville, Ark., will perform with the group on the djembe, and Grace Whitaker, a senior biology major from Victoria, Texas, serves as the group’s choreographer.

Tickets may be purchased for $5 at the Jones Performing Arts Center Box Office the day of the concert or online at www.obu.edu/finearts. OBU students receive one free ticket with their student ID. For more information, contact the JPAC Box Office at (870) 245-5563.

By Brooke Zimny