Holli Barger named winner of Ouachita’s 2019 McBeth Concerto Competition
December 11, 2019
- Madison CresswellPhoto by Dr. Ryan Lewis
Ouachita Baptist University junior Holli Barger was named this year’s winner of the W. Francis and Mary McBeth Wind and Percussion Concerto Competition on Dec. 6. She performed “Horn Concerto, No. 8 – I. Allegro” by Franz Strauss.
Barger is a junior instrumental music education major from Carrollton, Texas. She received a $500 award for her horn performance and may be featured as a soloist with the Ouachita Wind Ensemble in the 2020 spring semester.
“I was kind of shocked when I heard my name for first place,” Barger said. “This competition was a great opportunity to display my passion for music, and winning it means so much! It gave me a boost in confidence and assured me for my future.”
Richie Blosch, a senior music major from Fort Worth, Texas, earned second place for his marimba performance of “Concerto for Marimba – Movement II” by E. Séjourné, along with an award of $300. Cross Brandon, a sophomore instrumental music education double major from Little Rock, Ark., received third place and an award of $200 for his saxophone performance of “Concerto for Saxophone – I. Wave II. Think III. Bounce” by Z. Mezzo.
Other students who competed include: Cayli Campbell, a senior instrumental performance major from Texarkana, Texas, on trombone; Andrew Coop, a senior worship arts major from Gladewater, Texas, on trombone; Bethany Crawley, a junior instrumental music education major from Jonesboro, Ark., on flute; Katelyn Still, a sophomore instrumental music education major from Benton, Ark., on saxophone; and Ashlynne Turner, a senior instrumental music education major from Burleson, Texas, on clarinet.
This was the 14th year of the annual competition, which features outstanding Ouachita instrumental students. It is sponsored by Mrs. Mary McBeth in honor of her late husband, W. Francis McBeth, who was
Arkansas’ composer laureate and a long-time professor of music at Ouachita.
Pianists accompanying the students throughout the performance were Dr. Mary Chung, assistant professor of music, and staff accompanists Kristen La Madrid, Susan Monroe and Elsen Portugal.
For more information regarding the competition, contact Dr. Carlos Feller, visiting assistant professor of music, at [email protected] or 870-245-4160.
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