Annual Concerto-Aria Set for Feb. 15

OBU will be hosting the 41st annual Concerto-Aria Concert Sunday, Feb. 15. The free performance, which features the musical talents of eight OBU students and a full orchestra, will begin at 8 p.m. in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium located on the OBU campus in Shawnee. The public is invited to attend. Additionally, a lecture regarding the evening's performances will precede the concert at 7 p.m. in Raley 203.

OBU's fine arts program selects student soloists for Concerto-Aria via audition. This year's concert features eight student performers and will be directed by Dr. Lee Hinson, professor of church music.

Sammy Andrews, a senior musical arts: voice major from Checotah, Oklahoma, is active in the touring opera and the Campus Activities Board's stage band. He will perform the aria "Furibondo Spira Il Vento" by Handel. He is from the studio of Dr. Louima Lilite.

Graeson Griffin, a junior musical arts: piano major and physics minor from Shawnee, Oklahoma, serves as a Bison Glee Club officer and is a member of the Bison Jazz Orchestra. He will perform on piano and will be joined by the orchestra in the first movement of Gershwin's "Concerto in F." He is from the studio of Dr. Michael Dean.

Laurel Page, a junior musical arts: piano major from McKinney, Texas, will perform "Piano Concerto No. 11 in D Major, Movement I: Vivace," by Haydn. She is currently the librarian of the Bisonettes Women's Glee Club and accompanist for the OBU Preparatory High School Concert Choir. She is from the studio of Dr. Mary Chung.

Karissa Peercy, a senior musical arts major from Duncan, Oklahoma, is active in the Symphonic Winds, the OBU/Shawnee Community Orchestra, the Bison Jazz Orchestra, the Bisonettes Women's Glee Club, and Phi Eta Sigma. She will perform Mozart's "Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 662: I. Allegro." She is from the studio of Justin Pierce.

Jillian Elise Pullen, a freshman vocal music education major from Oklahoma City, is a member of University Chorale and the a Capella group Voce Vera. She recently performed as Mrs. McLean in the campus production of the opera "Susannah." She will perform "In Nomini, In Soldati" by Mozart. She comes from the studio of Dr. Jennifer McQuade.

Bailee Rogers, a senior vocal performance major from Bixby, Oklahoma, is active in University Chorale, the University Concert Series and the OBU Vocal Department's production of "Susannah" by Carlisle Floyd. She will perform "Obéissons quand leur voix appellee" by Jules Massenet. She is from the studio of Dr. Mark McQuade.

Thomas Whitmore, an instrumental music education major from Shawnee, is president of Bison Glee Club and member of Symphonic Winds, OBU Percussion Ensemble, Kappa Kappa Psi and Campus Activities Board. He will present "Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra, Movement IV: Despedida," by Ney Rosauro. Whitmore is from the studio of Patrick Womack.

Michael Wilson, a junior music composition major from Yukon, is involved in the Bison Glee Club as well as the Symphonic Winds. His composition "The Greatest Generation," will be performed by the orchestra and will be accompanied by a film.

Wilson said about his piece, "I composed it during the summer of 2014. The piece was written as a tribute to the veterans of World War II, focusing exclusively on the European theater of combat. It will begin in small town America just prior to 1940 and come to a triumphant finish on May 8, 1945, Victory in Europe Day."

"I drew inspiration from film scores such as John Williams' "Saving Private Ryan," Michael Kamen's "Band of Brothers," and Giacchino and Lennertz's "Medal of Honor" video game scores. The piece makes ample use of warm, hymn-like chords and suspensions with additional influence from Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring" and "Fanfare for the Common Man." In my piece, I sought to portray the beauty of the American spirit of the everyday men and women who fought and sacrificed in extraordinary ways for their country."

For more information about the Concerto-Aria concert, contact OBU's Division of Music at (405) 585-4301 or music@okbu.edu.