Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music will present a concert by the OBU Trombone and Flute Choirs on Monday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m. in Mabee Fine Art Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.

“I try to choose music for the Trombone Choir that will get all the players involved,” said Dr. Justin Isenhour, director of the Trombone Choir and assistant professor of music.

Part of Isenhour’s responsibility as director of the ensemble is to help each member enhance his skills. The group provides an opportunity for the performers to play in a small chamber setting.

“I try to balance my pedagogical desires with building a concert program that is interesting to an audience and contains music in a variety of styles,” Isenhour added.

The concert will feature Buddy Baker’s arrangement of “Colorado Trail,” as well as “Suite of Lieder” by Franz Schubert, “Georgia on My Mind” by Hoagy Carmichael, “Hunter’s Chorus” from Der Freischutz by Carl Maria von Weber and “Der Koing” and “Umzug” by Michael Praetorius.

“I am really looking forward to ‘Colorado Trail’ because the piece has a unique use of vocal harmonies alongside the soloist in the piece,” said Jeremy Cooper, a junior Christian studies/Christian ministries and psychology major from Mesquite, Texas. “Students will enjoy this concert because it is a great way to see what all of your friends have been hard at work doing this semester, and all of the music is great.” “Colorado Trail” will feature soloist Bret Steed, a senior music performance major from Idabel, Okla.

The Ouachita Flute Choir is a chamber ensemble featuring the C flute, as well as piccolo, alto flute, bass flute and contra bass flute. Kristin Grant, assistant professor of music, conducts the ensemble.

The Flute Choir will perform "Canzon" by Giovanni Gabrielli, "Memories of East Tennessee in the Early Forties" by Austin Alan Scott and “Sinfonico, Op. 12" by Anton Reicha. According to Grant, these selections range in style from the late Renaissance canzon, to the Classical piece by Reicha, and the modern piece by Scott, which was inspired by the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee, revival hymns and traditional dance tunes.

Members of the Trombone Choir include Cooper and Steed as well as Dr. Kevin Cornelius, associate professor of physics; Dalton King, a freshman instrumental music education major from Greenwood, Ark.; Jason Potts, a freshman instrumental music education major from Springdale, Ark.; Evan Rogers, a senior church music major from Jacksonville, Ark.; and Kaden Sosebee, a sophomore Christian studies/Christian theology and Biblical studies major from Fort Smith, Ark.

Cornelius affirmed the opportunity to perform with the ensemble. “I periodically play the trumpet or trombone at church and have had the privilege of playing in several trombone ensembles at OBU over the years,” he noted.

Members of the Flute Choir include Megan Archer, a sophomore instrumental music education major from Osceola, Ark.; Elizabeth Baker, a senior music performance major from Grapevine, Texas; Maegan Hodge, a senior Spanish and secondary education major from Springdale, Ark.; Kathryn Lee, a senior music major from Azle, Texas; Jayla Luxton, a freshman music major from Alexander, Ark.; Megan Massey, a senior instrumental music education major from Weatherford,Texas; Emma Patterson, a senior choral music education major from Garland, Texas; LeeAnne Polk, a senior music major from Greenville,Texas; Dr. Heather Thayer, assistant director of music; and Caroline Twyford, a freshman music major from Hot Springs, Ark.

For more information, contact Dr. Justin Isenhour at [email protected] or (870) 245-5144.

By Jessica Stewart