Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music will host Ashley Partridge, mezzo-soprano, and Lynley Vire, soprano, in their senior recital March 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. A reception in Hammons Gallery will immediately follow the recital, which is in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the students’ musical theatre degrees.

“This recital is kind of like my last big performance at OBU,” Vire said. “It’s something I’ve been working on since I was a freshman. It’s the culmination of all my efforts over these four years and lets me show off how hard I have worked and the awesome training I have received.”

Vire, a native of Searcy, Ark., has been involved in Theta Alpha Phi national honor fraternity for theatre arts, Women’s Chorus and EEE Women’s Social Club and will play Mrs. MacAfee in OBU’s spring production of Bye Bye Birdie. She has been named to Ouachita’s Dean’s List and has been named a semi-finalist in the state National Association of Teachers of Singers auditions. Vire is a student of Dr. Jon Secrest, Daniel Inouye, Mary Handiboe, Dr. Scott Holsclaw and Eric Phillips and is a former student of Cindy Fuller.

Speaking of Secrest and Fuller, her two primary voice teachers, Vire said, “They both taught me so much throughout my four years here. Dr. Secrest has especially helped me with my belting technique and my confidence level. Both teachers were always very encouraging and helpful.”

Partridge, a native of Baton Rouge, La., has served as vice president of OBU’s chapter of Theta Alpha Phi and has also been involved in Tri Chi Women’s Social Club and Women’s Chorus.

The two women will open the recital together with a quartet, Tom Kitt’s “Just Another Day” from Next to Normal. They will be assisted by Jacob Watson, a senior musical theatre major from Wynne, Ark., and Xavier Lagunas, a junior musical theatre major from Arlington, Texas.

Vire will open her solo portion of the recital with Charles Strouse’s “One Boy” from Bye Bye Birdie.

“My part of the recital is basically the different stages of a relationship,” Vire said. “It’s about finding love, losing it and then getting it back again.”

Partridge will open her solo portion of the recital with Galt MacDermont’s “Air” from Hair.

Vire will return to present Act I, Scene VI from Closer by Patrick Marber; she will be assisted by Lagunas. She will then perform Claude-Michel Schönberg’s “On My Own” from Les Misérables. Partidge, assisted by DeCarl Jones, a freshman vocal performance major from Rowlett, Texas, will then perform George Gershwin’s “Fascinating Rhythm” from Lady, Be Good. Vire will conclude the first half of the recital with Stephen Sondheim’s “On the Steps of the Palace” from Into the Woods.

Partridge and Vire will then present Act II, Scene I from Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, followed by Vire’s performance of Stephen Schwartz’ “O Bless the Lord, My Soul” from Godspell. Partridge will then perform Act I, Scene I from David Auburn’s Proof; she will be assisted by Lagunas. She will then perform Stephen Sondheim’s “Losing My Mind” from Follies.

Vire will present Jason Robert Brown’s “The Next Ten Minutes” from The Last Five Years as her final individual piece; she will be assisted by Watson. For Partridge’s final individual selection, she will present Stephen Sondheim’s “A Little Priest” from Sweeney Todd; she will be assisted by Lagunas.

The women will conclude the recital with a duet of Henry Krieger’s “Dreamgirls” from Dreamgirls.

“All in all, it’s just going to be an hour of fun and entertainment,” Vire concluded. “I hope people really enjoy what we’re bringing to the table and love it.”

The recitals are free and open to the public. Susan Monroe will serve as accompanist for the performances. For more information, contact OBU’s School of Fine Arts as (870) 245-5129.

By Brooke Zimny