Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music will host Dr. Justin Isenhour and Dr. Adam Haas in a faculty recital Monday, Oct. 12, at 7:30 p.m. The recital, which is free and open to the public, will be held in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall on the Ouachita campus.

Isenhour, assistant professor of music, and Haas, visiting assistant professor of music, will collaborate on trombone and piano, respectively, for the recital. The chosen repertoire primarily includes selections written after 1950 and features several trombone staples as well as a selection from musical theatre.

“We're presenting a faculty recital because like faculty in the sciences conduct research, faculty in Christian Studies write on theology, faculty in the arts perform or present their artist endeavors,” Isenhour said. “It feeds and pushes us as artists, serves the university community and provides models for our students.”

“Our goal is to express the musical ideas in a way that would impact the audience on an emotional level,” Haas said. “We’ve put together a great program that features a nice mix of familiar and new pieces that I think the audience will be excited to hear.

“I’ve played with Dr. Isenhour on a couple of occasions over the last few years, and I’ve really enjoyed making music with him,” Haas added. “Musicians tend to spend a lot of time practicing on their own, so it’s nice to get the opportunity to collaborate with someone else.”

The concert will begin with Sigismond Stojowski’s “Fantasy” and Camille Saint Saëns’s “Cavatine.” Both of these pieces are staples in the trombone repertoire. The concert will continue with two newer pieces, Andrew Skaggs’ “Varietals” and Eric Ewazen’s Concerto No. 3 “Songs of the Sun.” Skaggs plays trombone in the United States Navy Band and is a friend of Dr. Isenhour. Additional pieces include Clarence Barber’s “Tabloid,” which includes a reading of news briefs from a current newspaper by Dr. Kevin C. Motl, associate professor of history and holder of the R. Voyt Hill Chair of History. The concert will conclude with a rendition of Stephen Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns” from “A Little Night Music.”

“I enjoy all the music that we're playing on the program, but I'm especially excited about folks hearing the third movement of the Ewazen,” Isenhour noted. “The movement is full of Brazilian-inspired rhythms and colors. I think it connects well with audiences.”

Dr. Isenhour earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of South Carolina. He also holds degrees from Appalachian State University and the University of North Colorado. Isenhour teaches Applied Trombone, Bass Trombone, Euphonium and Tuba in addition to Music Theory courses. He also directs the OBU Low Brass Ensemble and is a member of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Haas earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Colorado and holds additional degrees from Indiana University and Colorado State University. He has performed with the New York Concerti Sinfonietta, the Loveland Orchestra and the Colorado State University Orchestra. Haas has also been featured in performances with the Fort Collins Chamber Players and the Colorado State University Chamber Orchestra. He teaches Applied Piano, Group Piano, Organ and Worship Service Playing for Pianists. He also accompanies Ouachita Singers and is the organist at First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia.

Dr. Motl holds Doctor of Philosophy and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Texas A&M University and earned his Master of Arts degree from the University of North Texas. He teaches several history courses and honors seminars, including Contemporary World, Modern America, History of American Women and Alternative History.

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

 

By Katie Smith