Camerata Hosts OBU’s Acclaimed Young People’s Choir

The inaugural convocation of the Church Music Camerata at Oklahoma Baptist University will begin with a concert by the nationally recognized Concert Choir, Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the university's Potter Auditorium. The Concert Choir of OBU's Preparatory Department is under the direction of Dr. Darla Eshelman, associate professor of music education. 

The concert also will feature performances by Dr. Ron Davis, OBU professor of organ, on OBU's new fully electronic organ console.

The new console controls the chapel's acclaimed 53-rank organ, which features more than 3,000 pipes housed behind the auditorium stage.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Twelve full-time ministers of music and eight organist/choirmasters from the Southwestern and Southeastern United States make up the camerata. The group serves as a professional council for the Department of Church Music at OBU.

This year's convention agenda includes discussions on how to train ministers of music and worship in the new century, how to develop a connected system of professionals to assist students training for the ministry, and how to create strategies to engage and shape the dynamic developments in music ministry.

Members of the camerata serve a three-year term, and meet each January. The group is headed up by Dr. John E. Simons, OBU associate professor of church music and coordinator of the department of church music. Davis also assists with the program.

OBU church music students will participate in a practicum course taught by members of the group. The course focuses on how to begin music ministry in a new church.