Instrumentalists Arrive in Shawnee this Week

Oklahoma Baptist University will welcome to campus Christian instrumentalists from across the United States March 7-9, for the ninth national conference of the Christian Instrumentalists and Directors Association. Dr. Jim Hansford, OBU professor of music and director of bands, is national president of the organization and will host the event.

The week will feature two instrumental concerts March 7 and 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the university's Potter Auditorium in Raley Chapel.

The Thursday evening concert will highlight a joint performance by the OBU Symphonic Band and the California ensemble "Ivory and Brass," a piano and trumpet duo. The concert will include classic, baroque and contemporary Christian selections.

The duo, Mary Kay and Jim Altizer, also perform on flute, guitar and violin. She is a conservatory-trained pianist and he is a world-class trumpeter specializing in piccolo trumpet. They also will perform in OBU's Wednesday chapel service at 10 a.m.

The Friday evening concert will showcase a church orchestra directed by Camp Kirkland and the Christian Intercollegiate Honor Band directed by Don Hanna. Kirkland is well-known nationally as a composer-arranger and producer. Hanna recently retired as director of bands and associate professor of music at Hardin Simmons University.

The concert also will include members of the Oklahoma Baptist Symphony, the OBU-Shawnee Community Orchestra, OBU's Symphonic Band and musicians from Kansas, Nebraska, California, and Texas.

Both concerts are free and open to the public.

The conference will feature more than 10 guest speakers, conductors and performers including Dr. Jon Duncan, Georgia Baptist Convention; Dr. Phil Norris, Northwestern College, St. Paul, Minn.; Dr. Mark Bailey, Lee University, Cleveland, Tenn.; Mark Johnson, Lifeway Christian Resources, Nashville, Tenn.; and Dr. James Lambert, Cameron University, Lawton.

OBU professors participating are Dr. John Simons, associate professor of church music; Dr. Chris Bade, associate professor of music; Kevin Pruiett, assistant professor of music; and Dr. Ron Davis, university organist and associate professor of music.

Session topics will include "Biblical Foundations of Instrumental Music," "Perception vs. Reality in Music Experience," "What Choral Musicians Need from Instrumentalists and Vice Versa," "The Power of Properly Perceiving Percussion," and "Suggestions for Helping Instrumental Conductors in Choral Rehearsals."

A book session will introduce a recently released textbook by Lifeway Christian Resources, "The Instrumental Resource for Church and School: A Manual of Biblical Perspectives and Practical Instruction for Today's Christian Instrumentalists." Hansford served as a writer and editor for the new publication.

CIDA consists of 800 members from the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. Members include professional symphony players, band directors at Christian colleges, secondary schools and churches, composers, local church musicians and retailers.

The organization was founded in 1982 by Executive Director George Strombeck.

Contact Hansford at 878-2307 for more information about the conference.