Bisonette Glee Club and University Ringers to Perform in Spring Concert April 24

The Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts and the OBU Division of Music will present the Bisonette Glee Club and University Ringers in a combined spring concert Saturday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. in Raley Chapel’s Potter Auditorium. Admission is free but advanced reservations are required to maintain physical distancing. Seats may be reserved online.

The Bisonette Glee Club is the women’s chorus at OBU and is under the direction of Dr. James Vernon, Burton H. Patterson Professor of Music. Accompanists for the Bisonette Glee Club include Rachel Darvin and Catherine Burgess. The University Ringers is the university’s handbell choir and is under the direction of Dr. Lee Hinson, professor of church music. Both groups are auditioned ensembles within the College of Fine Arts and perform regularly on and off campus. Membership of each group consists of both music majors and non-music majors, representing a wide cross-section of university life, including majors in nursing, biology, education, art, theatre and theology.

The Bisonette Glee Club will perform numerous works, including “By the Rivers of Babylon” by Charles Loeffler, “Salvation is Created” by Paul Tschesnokoff, “Heaven Unfolding” by Andrea Ramsey, “When You Are Old” by Peter Berring, “We Will do Miracles” by Dominick DiOrio, and “Velvet Shoes” by James Vernon. Composed in 1901, “By the Rivers of Babylon” is scored for women’s choir, two flutes, organ, harp and cello. Loeffler was an influential composer during his lifetime in Boston and this is his only sacred composition. 

The University Ringers will perform works from a variety of composers, including “Pumping Bronze” by Linda Lamb, “Sing We Now of Christmas” by Jason W. Krug, “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” by Mathew Compton, and “Take My Life and Let It Be” by Sandra Eithun.

A new work, “The Infinite,” was commissioned for this concert. It was composed by OBU alumnus Michael Ware. A 2006 graduate, Ware is a widely-performed and published composer and is currently serving First Baptist Church of Shawnee as minister of music. “The Infinite” is scored for women’s choir, handbells and organ and is based on a text by Issac Watts (1674-1748).

Additional performers will join during various works throughout the evening, including Thresa Swadley, cello; Dr. Stephen Sims, assistant professor of music, narration; Dr. Patricia Nelson, associate professor of music education, organ; Chelsea Bushong, harp; Dr. Teresa Purcell-Giles, assistant professor of music and director of bands, flute; and Emari Benito, flute.