Guest Piano Concert to Include 5 Family Members

A guest piano performance on March 9 promises to be a true "family affair," when OBU School of Music presents piano instructor Alice Brooks Sanders in concert with her four children. This free concert will be held at 3 p.m. in Yarborough Auditorium on OBU's campus in Shawnee.

In addition to Sanders' performance on the piano, this event will showcase the individual talents of Mary Sanders (soprano), Clara Sanders Marcus (piano), Isabel Sanders (horn) and Edward Sanders (vibraphone). The program will include music for solo piano, piano duet, horn, voice and vibraphone.

"From the very first Suzuki violin recital, I have enjoyed performing music with each of my children," said Alice Brooks Sanders. "Making music together was an integral part of our family life and it is a special joy to perform a program that includes all of them."

A native of Texas, Alice Brooks Sanders holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Baylor University and a Master of Music degree from the University of Oklahoma. She performs as a solo recitalist and accompanist, and is a certified MusikGarten preschool teacher. In addition, she has taught piano at St. Gregory's University and operated a private piano studio in Shawnee. She is married to Dr. Glenn Sanders, OBU professor of history. She is a member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers, the Music Teachers National Association, and the American Guild of Organists, and is Director of Music Ministry at the United Presbyterian Church in Shawnee.

Mary, who also lives in Shawnee, graduated from OBU and the University of Connecticut with degrees in history. She is currently a doctoral student in history at Oklahoma State University and an adjunct instructor at OBU and Seminole State College. She is an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church USA and sings in her church choir.

Clara graduated from Houghton College in Houghton, N.Y., with degrees in piano performance and multicultural studies. She managed an after-school tutoring program for three years, and now is pursuing a Master of Divinity/Master of Social Work degree at Duke Divinity School and the University of North Carolina. She is married to Shane Marcus and they have a son, Cyprian, who is 5 months old. The family lives in North Carolina.

Isabel graduated from Houghton College with degrees in horn performance and English. She is working at Benedict Street Marketplace and as a youth specialist with Gateway to Prevention and Recovery. She is engaged to be married in May to Jim Vitale. She currently lives in Shawnee.

Edward graduated from Shawnee High School in 2013 and is a freshman at OBU. During high school he acted in numerous drama productions, receiving All-State honors, and was also a member of the drum line. He has interests in political science, religion and music but has not yet declared a major. He lives in Shawnee.