Ouachita Stories

The Ouachita Baptist University Wind Ensemble will present a concert featuring composer and OBU alumnus Steven Bryant on Thursday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center on the Ouachita campus. The concert is free and open to the public.

Bryant is performing with the Ouachita Wind Ensemble as part of Ouachita Baptist University's 125th anniversary celebration. The program will include the following compositions by Bryant: The Parody Suite, including “Chester Leaps In,” “Impercynations,” “Meta March” and “Suite Dreams.” Continuing, the program features “Dusk” and “Radiant Joy.” The concert will conclude with “Ecstatic Waters.” Bryant will discuss each of his pieces, and the Wind Ensemble will perform each work. The Ouachita Wind Ensemble is conducted by Dr. Craig V. Hamilton, Lena Goodwin Trimble Professor of Music and director of bands at OBU.

Bryant, a Little Rock native, is an active composer and conductor with a varied catalog, including works for wind ensemble, orchestra, chamber music, electronic and electro-acoustic creations, and music for the web. His award-winning compositions have been performed by various ensembles across North America, Europe and Asia and he has produced commissioned work for a number of ensembles and organizations.

Bryant graduated from Ouachita in 1994 with a degree in music theory and composition and earned his master’s degree in musical composition from the University of North Texas. Bryant went on to receive a professional studies degree at The Juilliard School. In 2006, he spent a year as visiting artist in residence at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Concerning his Ouachita experience, Bryant said, “I received a solid education in every area, which has served as a powerful foundation. In particular, the OBU Wind Ensemble's commitment to performing student composers' works in a concert every year was singularly effective and invaluable to me as a budding composer.”

Bryant worked in the IT department at Julliard for nearly 10 years, while continuing to write on the side and build his career as a composer. He now lives in Durham, N.C., where he is a full-time freelance composer.

“First and foremost, I try to make the absolute best music I can – not that which I think will sell most, but that which speaks to me and is music I actually want to listen to,” said Bryant, who self-publishes his musical works.

For more information, contact Dr. Craig Hamilton at [email protected] or 870-245-5137.

By Lara Overman