ARKADELPHIA, Ark.—The Ouachita Baptist University Concert Choir will perform Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” on Tuesday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center on Ouachita’s campus.
“Carmina Burana” is a 60-minute cantata based on the medieval collection of poetry by the same name.
“We really are fortunate at OBU to be able to present this type of quality music in Arkadelphia,” said Dr. Gary Gerber, OBU associate professor of music. “I would hope that each student, faculty and staff, as well as the community would support the arts by attending the many concerts that are held at OBU.”
Gerber will serve as conductor for the performance. The choir will be joined by members of the South Arkansas Symphony and the OBU Wind Ensemble as well as OBU faculty members.
“This performance includes both the choir and an orchestra,” Gerber said. “It’s always fun to combine the two. It’s exciting and energetic. It really is audience-pleasing music.”
Ouachita alumnus Stephen Ray will join the choir as featured baritone. Ray earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from OBU in 2008 and is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from Rice University. He also currently serves as minister to youth at Westbury Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. While at OBU, Ray was named a grand finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
Jacob Watson, a junior music theatre major from Wynne, Ark., will be the featured tenor. Four Ouachita students will also be featured sopranos: Sarah Beth Hill, a senior church music major from El Dorado, Ark.; Elisabeth Hipp, a senior vocal performance major from Memphis, Tenn.; Grace Johnson, a junior vocal performance major from Tyler, Texas; and Leslyn Ichter, a senior choral music education major from Conway, Ark.
The Concert Choir is open to all students and does not require an audition. “We have students with all types of musical backgrounds,” Gerber said. “There is joy and satisfaction from knowing that each student has the ability to reach higher in a musical sense than they thought they could achieve.”
Tickets for the concert are $5, but all OBU students receive one free ticket with their OBU ID. For tickets or more information, visit the JPAC box office or call (870) 245-5563 Monday-Friday from 2-5 p.m.
