Outstanding Musical Talent Featured In Annual OBU Concerto-Aria Feb. 17

Prospective students and the public alike will be able to hear OBU's most talented music students Monday, Feb. 17, at the University's 29th annual Concerto-Aria.

The Concerto-Aria series was born from the desire to allow OBU piano majors an opportunity to play with orchestra. It gradually evolved into a University-wide event and included both instrumentalists and vocalists.

"The annual Concerto-Aria continues to be one of the College of Fine Arts' major events," said Dr. Ron Lewis, the OBU professor of music who started the event in 1974. "For the first time in many years, the program will include an organist in addition to two pianists, four vocalists and two instrumentalists. The program affords the audience an opportunity to hear some of OBU's most talented students."

The event also is part of OBU's Music Main Event, an annual day for prospective music majors to come and sit in on classes, meet faculty and current OBU students, and audition for admission and scholarships.

This year's nine soloists are Jennifer Raelene Peck, a senior from Oklahoma City; Lindsey Katherine Doolin, a sophomore from Lawton; Jamin A. Garoutte, a junior from Fort Wayne, Ind.; Elizabeth Finke, a junior from Independence, Mo.; Stephanie Norton, a senior from Winters, Texas; Dustin Tims, a junior from Seminole; Aaron Robertson, a senior from Three Rivers, Calif.; Crystal Summer Morrow, a senior from Sand Springs; and Stephen King, a junior from Amarillo, Texas.

Dr. James Vernon, associate professor of music and chair of the Division of Music, will conduct the concert.

A pre-concert conversation with Dr. Kristen Todd, assistant professor of music history, will begin in Raley Chapel Room 203 at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 17. The lecture on the pieces being performed will be followed by the concert at 8:30 p.m. The night will close with a reception in Geiger Center honoring the soloists.