Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music will host its annual Composers Symposium showcasing compositions by OBU students. The symposium will be held at 7:30 p.m. April 19 in Jones Performing Arts Center on Ouachita’s campus.

The first half of the concert will feature selections for soloists or small ensembles. The second half will include a performance by the OBU Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Craig Hamilton.

The students have spent more than a semester working on their compositions, drawing inspiration from various sources. The program offers an opportunity for the students to hear some of their works performed in a concert setting.

“I got a lot of inspiration by listening to other pieces performed at the school and talking with my peers, other composition majors,” said Christina Wood, a junior piano performance and music theory/composition major from Longview, Texas. “Trading ideas and just talking about music helped a lot in giving me a direction.”

“These performances will be the first time the students hear the full experience of their compositions,” said Dr. Patrick Houlihan, OBU professor of music. “They will only have a rough idea of how it sounds and what problems performers will encounter during rehearsals until the work is actually prepared and performed.”

In addition to Wood, the participating student composers include: Allan Bateman, a sophomore music theory/composition major from Perryville, Ark.; Joel Coleman, a sophomore music theory/composition major from Hot Springs, Ark.; Adam Chastain, a junior music theory/composition major from Bartlett, Tenn.; Nathan Courtright, a senior music major from Rowlett, Texas; Tyler Kemp, a junior music theory/composition major from Bolivar, Mo.; and Sarah Wood, a senior music theory/composition major from Dallas, Texas.

The concert, which is free and open to the public, will be directed by Dr. Patrick Houlihan. For more information, contact Houlihan at [email protected] or (870) 245-5130.

By Breanne Goodrum