OBU Music Preparatory Choirs to Present Spring Concert April 30

The Music Preparatory Department choirs at Oklahoma Baptist University will present a spring concert Sunday, April 30, at 3 p.m. in Raley Chapel’s Potter Auditorium. Performing groups include Discovery Singers, Shawnee Honor Choir and Concert Choir. The concert is free and the public is invited.

The youngest choir, Discovery Singers, under the direction of Ashley Pierce, will open the program with “Mrs. Jenny Wren” by Rodney Bennett. Other Discovery Choir selections include “Jesus Loves Me,” arranged by Betty Bertaux: “The Little Birch Tree,” by Mary Goetz; and “Dance, Sing, Clap Your Hands,” by Douglas Wagner.

In its 34th year, Shawnee Honor Choir, an auditioned group of third through seventh graders, conducted by Conchita Hansford, will open their portion of the program with “Little Bird,” a traditional American piece arranged by Leo M. Wanenchak. They will continue with “Mary Had A Little Blues” by Charles A. Collins; “I've Got Shoes,” a traditional spiritual arranged by Rollo A. Dilworth; and “Joy in Jerusalem,” sung in English, Hebrew and Chassidic, and arranged by Phyllis Aleta Wolfe. The piece commemorates the historic signing of the peace accord between Palestine and Israel at the White House Sept. 13, 1993. Littie White and Camryn Green will add percussion accompaniment. The final songs include “The Boston Trot,” adapted from an American Folk Song by David J. Elliott, and “Stars,” an original work set to the poetry by students from the Faywood Public School under the guidance of the their teacher in Toronto, Canada, and set to music by Larsya Kuzmenko.

Orff instrumentalists will perform “Pachelbel Canon Lite” by Johann Pachelbel. Student Orff performers include Trenton Cope-Ueltzen, Kaitlyn Duran, Estelle Lilite, and Alexis Walker on soprano glockenspiels; Clara Timmons and Littie White on soprano xylophone; Keylee Landes on soprano metallophone; Calloway Burnett, Kalyn Jones, Faith Lynn and Ava Rawdon on alto xylophones; Libby Isenhower on alto metallophone; Karsyn McDonald on bass xylophone; Addison Pringle on bass metallophone; and Caden Romine on bass bars.

The Shawnee Honor Choir will conclude their portion of the concert with an audience sing-a-long of patriotic songs accompanied by hand chimes. Hand chime performers include Riley Barker, Natalie Galloway, Neveah Gaines, Jenevieve Gay, Dax Hickman, Kate Jennings, Mary Lytle, Brooklyne Malouf, Sarah Mashek, Garrett McDonald, Nate Smith, Aubree Wilkins and Jordan Winter.

Concert Choir, comprised of high school students, and directed by Dr. Louima Lilite, associate profess or music, will open with a traditional Hebrew folksong “Shalom Chaverim.” Other Concert choir selections include “Bop Shu-Wop” by Joe Ingram III; “All Things Bright and Beautiful,” by John Rutter; "Mangwani Mpulele,” a Zulu Folk Song adapted by Theodore Bikel and arranged by Lawrence Eisman; and “Go Light Your World” by Chris Rice.

For the 27th consecutive year, Shawnee Honor Choir will present its spring program in area schools. The choir will perform Tuesday, April 25, at Pleasant, Grove, Sterling House and Liberty Academy. On Friday, April 28, the choir will perform at South Rock Creek, North Rock Creek and Will Rogers.

Auditions are open for students to join any of the choirs and will be held May 9 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. or by special arrangement. Students will be auditioned in order of appearance and will only need to sing “Happy Birthday.” For more information about OBU's Music Preparatory Department, visit the Prep Department webpage, call (405) 585-4329 or email prep@okbu.edu.