Ouachita Stories

The Ouachita Baptist University Division of Music will host OBU’s Clarinet, Double Reed and Saxophone Ensembles in concert on April 1 at 7:30 p.m. in McBeth Recital Hall in Mabee Fine Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public.  

The Clarinet Ensemble will open the concert with “Alabama Sketches, III. Alabama Capers” by Sol B. Cohen. They will then perform T.A. Ayre’s arrangement of “Canzona per Sonare No. 2” by Giovanni Gabrielli and “Clarinette Valsante” by Alfred Reed. Percussionist Chris Hogan, a sophomore instrumental music education major from Bartlesville, Okla., then will join the Clarinet Ensemble for J. De Bueris’ translation of “Dance Creole” by C. Chaminade and “Bossa Chica” by G. Bowen.

The Saxophone Quartet will then perform the “Saxophone Quartet, I. (1995)” by Phillip Glass. The Double Reed Ensemble will present “Contrastes I., II. Moderato, III. Allegretto and IV. Allegretto” by Eugene Bozza. Clarinetist Chelsea Villanueva, a sophomore instrumental music education major from Bentonville, Ark., and flutist Elizabeth Baker, a senior performance major from Grapevine, Texas, will then join the Double Reed Ensemble for Harry Gee’s arrangement of  “Divertimento, K. 251” by W.A. Mozart.

The concert will conclude with “a collection of music the audience members should be fairly familiar with,” said Dr. Caroline Taylor, professor of music and director of the ensembles. The Saxophone Quartet will perform Warren Barker’s collection from The Wizard of Oz, including “Dorothy,” “Toto,” “The Scarecrow,” “The Tin Woodman,” “The Cowardly Lion” and “The Wizard”. Originally narrated by Wen Smith, this concert will be narrated by special guest Dr. Amy Sonheim, professor of English.

Members of the Clarinet Ensemble include Hannah Bowen, a junior choral music education major from Lewisville, Texas; Kristen James, a junior kinesiology, leisure studies and recreation major from Missouri City, Texas; Allison King, a junior instrumental music education major from Fort Worth, Texas; Megan Massey, a senior instrumental music education major from Weatherford, Texas; Crista Riggs, a senior chemistry major from Edmond, Okla.; Sara Walker, a junior Christian studies and church missions major from Mt. Pleasant, Texas; Lauren West, a junior major; and Chelsea Villanueva.

Members of the Double Reed Ensemble include oboist William Lawson, a sophomore worship arts major from Bryant, Ark., and Megan Massey on the bassoon.

Members of the Saxophone Quartet include soprano saxophonist Allan Bateman, a junior music theory/composition major from Perryville, Ark.; alto saxophonist Bradley Lindsey, a senior music major from Longview, Texas; tenor saxophonist Zach Barber, a freshman instrumental music major from Ennis, Texas; and baritone saxophonist Brent Nessler, senior instrumental music major from Rowlett, Texas.

For more information, contact the School of Fine Arts at (870) 245-5129.

By Taylor Tomlinson