Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University seniors Ashley Briggs and Amanda Nitcher will perform their senior recital on Friday, Nov. 15, at 11 a.m. in Mabee Fine Art Center’s McBeth Recital Hall.

“I’m excited to share the stage with one of my best friends and also my little brother who will be accompanying us for one song,” said Ashley Briggs, a senior music and worship arts major from Little Rock, Ark. “They are two people I have enjoyed singing with and leading worship with for years.”

“I too am so happy to sing and perform with one of my best friends,” said Amanda Nitcher, a senior music education major from McKinney, Texas. “This recital will be one where we have fun with the music because we are well prepared and love to sing and work together.”

“As my Ouachita career is coming to a close, I am thankful above all for what I have learned here,” Nitcher added.

Briggs also commented on her time at Ouachita and what is coming next, saying, “I’m looking forward to continuing to develop as a worship leader and musician. I’m excited to see the opportunities God will provide for my future.”

Briggs, who received a vocal scholarship to come to Ouachita, is a member of the Ouachita Student Foundation, was on the 2011 Homecoming court and is a recipient of the James Harrison Scholarship. She has performed in Concert Choir as well as Ouachita Singers.

Nitcher also received a vocal scholarship to attend Ouachita and has been named to OBU’s President’s and Dean’s Lists. Nitcher is also a member of Concert Choir as well as Ouachita Singers.

Briggs and Nitcher will open and close the recital singing together. The opener is “Barcarolle” by Jaques Offenbach from The Tales of Hoffman, and the finale is “Standing on the Promises (medley)” arranged by Jason Kyle Saetvit, Todd Smith, Amy Perry and Allan Hall. Briggs’ brother, Jake, a sophomore music major, will join them for the closing song.

The selections Briggs will perform include: “O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings” from The Messiah by George Frederic Handel, “The Twenty Third Psalm” by Albert Hay Malotte, “Che faro senza Euridice” from Orfeo ed Euridice by Christoph Willibald, “Im Kahne, Op. 60 No. 3” by Edvard Grieg, “Crucifix” By Jean-Baptiste Faure and “The Crucifixion, Op. 29 No. 5” by Samuel Barber.

Nitcher will perform “O del mio amato ben” by Stefano Donaudy, “Zeignung” by Richard Strauss, “La Mandoline“ by Claude Debussy, “La maja dolorosa” from Colección de Tonadillas by Enrique Granados, “Something’s Gotta Give” from Daddy Long Legs by Johnny Mercer and “The Hill” from Once by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová.

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

By Jessica Stewart