Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music will host Jon Sanders in his senior composition recital Tuesday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. The recital is free and open to the public.

Sanders is a senior music theory and composition major from Pearcy, Ark. The recital will feature pieces he composed throughout his time at Ouachita and will feature several Ouachita students and faculty members as vocalists and instrumentalists.

During his time at OBU, Sanders has been involved in the wind ensemble, marching band and percussion ensemble, playing the piano for several performances. He has also been a third place winner of OBU’s Virginia Queen Piano Competition.

“Various things inspired the pieces, for example my fascination with Francisco Goya's black paintings prompted me to write the solo violin piece ‘Pinturas Negras,’” Sanders said. He added that “people I meet at Ouachita have inspired me to write certain pieces. When I first heard Xavier Lagunas sing, I immediately wanted to write something for him. Also, my roommate Jonathan Stockman is a wonderful poet, and upon reading his poem ‘S'like ridin’ a train,’ I just had to set it.”

The recital will begin with “Dark Woods, Dark Water” which will feature Grace Johnson, a senior vocal performance major from Tyler, Texas.

“I wrote this piece specifically for Grace,” Sanders said. “While I'm usually at a piano or sitting at my desk when writing, with ‘Dark Woods, Dark Water’ I created sounds in computer programs and recorded various acoustic instruments to put together an accompaniment for Sylvia Plath's poem. This piece in particular is one that I'm excited for people to hear.”

Next, Sanders will perform the piano composition “Cepte Xis.”

“As a pianist, I thoroughly enjoy writing for piano, particularly because it gives me the opportunity to perform, which is something I usually enjoy,” Sanders said.

“S’like ridin’ a train” will follow, performed by vocalist Meredith Martin, a sophomore vocal performance major from Garland, Texas, and pianist Jenna Cummings, a senior music major from Jacksonville, Ark.

The Ouachita Singers will then take the stage to perform “O Vos Omnes” under the direction of Dr. Gary Gerber, chair of Ouachita’s Division of Music and director of choral activities. They will be accompanied by Chris Hogan, a freshman instrumental music education major from Bartlesville, Okla.

“In a Moving Landscape” will then be performed by Heather Thayer, adjunct instructor, on the violin, and Glenda Aldridge, adjunct instructor, on the piano.

Vocalist Xavier Lagunas, a senior musical theatre major from Arlington, Texas, and pianist T.J. Bailey, a junior church music major from Fort Smith, Ark., will then perform the piece “Mi sombra va silenciosa,” followed by Sanders’ performance of “Dialogues” on piano.

Algis Staskevicius, an instrumentalist for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, will play the violin for the closing selection, “Pinturas Negras.”

The recital is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the School of Fine Arts at (870) 245-5129.

By Breanne Goodrum