Ouachita to host 18th annual Mary Shambarger Competition for Singers Feb. 23
February 08, 2016
- Meaghan PolliziOuachita Baptist University’s School of Fine Arts will host its 18th annual Mary Shambarger
Competition for Singers on Tuesday, Feb. 23. The event will be held in Mabee Fine
Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall at 2 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Ouachita voice principals in their fourth semester of study or beyond are eligible
to enter. They will prepare song selections in the designated genre, music theatre,
and perform in front of a panel of esteemed voice and drama experts.
“The music theatre rotation always proves to be the most popular,” noted Dr. Jon Secrest,
coordinator of Ouachita’s vocal studies program. “I expect participation levels to
be high.”
“This year’s panel of judges includes OBU Professor Emerita of Music Mary Shambarger,
whose generosity has endowed this competition; OBU Interim President Dr. Charles Wright,
former dean of the School of Fine Arts; and Robert Hupp, producing artistic director
of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre,” Secrest added.
A cash prize of $500 will be given for first place, $300 for second place, $200 for
third place, $100 for fourth place and $50 for honorable mention. A reception will
be held in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s Hammons Gallery following the announcement of
the winners.
This competition will provide “a wonderfully exciting afternoon of performances that
take our students to a new level in terms of their singing and acting,” Secrest noted.
“Since there are cash awards involved, our students always put their best foot forward
when it comes to the Shambarger Competition.”
Mary Shambarger served on the music faculty for 32 years at Ouachita. She was instrumental
in forming the Ouachi-Tones, a women’s ensemble. In 1991, she restructured the group
and formed The Ouachita Sounds, a musical ensemble of six women and six men. At the
time of her retirement in 1998, she was the Lena Goodwin Trimble Professor of Music.
Registration closes on Feb. 12. For more information, contact Dr. Jon Secrest at [email protected]
or (870) 245-5134.
By Meaghan Pollizi
You Also Might Like
Recent