Winter concert offers Lincoln Center choral preview, ASU Orchestra benefit, March 13

March 06, 2012
The Arkansas State University Singers Men's, Women's, and Community Choirs will be joined by the ASU Concert Choir and Concert Orchestra, as well as singers from Harrisburg High School, to present a winter concert Tuesday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Fowler Center's Riceland Hall. This concert is free and open to the public.

The Arkansas State University Singers Men’s, Women’s, and Community Choirs will be joined by the ASU Concert Choir and Concert Orchestra, as well as singers from Harrisburg High School, to present a winter concert Tuesday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Fowler Center’s Riceland Hall. This concert is free and open to the public.

The first half of the concert will feature selections by the Men’s and Women’s Choirs, directed by ASU adjunct instructor Sharon Ward Cooper, and graduate music education major, William Weaver, and the second half will begin with a benefit performance by the ASU Concert Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Neale Bartee, professor of music. The combined choirs and orchestra will then present a preview of the choirs’ Lincoln Center Spring Break concert, Morten Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna,” directed by Dr. Dale Miller, interim dean of the College of Fine Arts and director of choral activities.

The Men’s and Women’s Choirs, under the direction of Ms. Cooper and Mr. Weaver, will present the first half of the performance. The Men’s Choir selections include: “Rise Up, O Men of God!” by William H. Walter, “Sweet Love Doth Now Invite” by John Dowland, “She Walks In Beauty by Earlene Rentz, conducted by Mr. Weaver, “Ride the Chariot” by William Henry Smith, featuring soloists Ryan Lee, John Pillians, Kale McDaniel, and Nick Robbins, and ”Make Them Hear You” from “Ragtime” by Stephen Flaherty. The Women’s Choir will sing “Three Hungarian Folksongs” by Zoltan Kodaly and Bela Bartok, “Dance On my Heart” by Allen Koepke, and “Who Will Buy” from “Oliver” by Lionel Bart, featuring soloists Mary Owens, Michelle Byrd, and Tess Wheetley. Ru Jie Wang, graduate piano major from China, is the collaborative pianist for the Men’s Choir, and Ruoman Jiang, also a graduate piano major from China, is the collaborative pianist for the Women’s Choir.

Following a brief intermission, Dr. Neale Bartee, will direct the ASU Concert Orchestra in “Finlandia” by Jean Sibelius. The orchestra’s appearance will stress the need for additional funds to continue offering partial tuition scholarships for string instrument players. Dr. Bartee explains, “Dr. Miller has requested the orchestra performance to highlight the need for scholarships for strings. Funds for string scholarships are based solely on private donations and there is a great need in this area. The orchestra has 21 members of the string section playing violin, viola, cello, and bass. Currently, there are a number of high school string musicians in the Arkansas and Memphis areas who are interested in attending ASU. Additional scholarship money is needed to assist these students in funding their college education.” Donations to the Aileen Matthews String Scholarship will be accepted following the performance, or they may be mailed to the “Aileen Matthews String Scholarship Fund,” in care of the ASU Foundation, P.O. Box 1990, State University, AR 72467.

The concert continues as the University/Community and Concert Choirs join the Men’s and Women’s Choirs and the ASU Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Miller, to perform Morten Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna.” Lauridsen’s work is in five movements, and its texts are drawn from sacred Latin sources, each containing references to light. Graduate choral conducting major Shannon O’Connor, from Potomac, Maryland, and freshman piano major William Kazyak, from Manila, have served as rehearsal accompanists for the University/Community Choir rehearsals this semester.

The Riceland Hall performance of “Lux Aeterna” is a preview of the University Singers-Community Choir’s Spring Break concert in New York’s Lincoln Center Alice Tully Hall. Under the management of MidAmerica Productions, the Lincoln Center concert will include high school choirs from central Arkansas and Los Angeles, Ca. Arkansas groups and their directors participating in New York will be the Harrisburg High School Chamber Singers, Amy Jarrett, director; Harding Academy of Searcy Chamber Choir, Craig Jones, director; Searcy Senior High School Chamber Choir, Tina Niederbrach, director; and Sylvan Hills (Sherwood) High School Chamber Choir, Elaine Harris, director. The Brentwood (Los Angeles) School Concert Singers, John-Kevin Hilbert, director, will join the Arkansas groups for the Lincoln Center performance. The groups will be assisted in New York by the New England Symphonic Ensemble, Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse, director. Dr. Miller will conduct the combined choirs and orchestra in the Lincoln Center concert after a series of rehearsals in New York. While in New York, the ASU performers will also attend Broadway plays and musicals, Metropolitan Opera performances, and enjoy the many fine arts and tourist attractions.

Members of the ASU Men’s and Women’s Choir include: Tenor I: Craig McAlister of Jonesboro, Chris Dyson of Harker Heights, Texas, Chris Orr of Jonesboro, and Bill Weaver of Cabot. Tenor II: Cody Bard of Conway, Cody Block of Waldenburg, Ben McClellan of McDougal, Seth Moore of Corning, Anthony McDermott of Marion, and Brian Randall of Lake City. Baritone: Clinton Fortune of Cherokee Village, C. J. Hoover of Jonesboro, Reece Jones of Jonesboro, William Kazyak of Manila, Ryan Lee of Wynne, Kale McDaniel of Jonesboro, Nick Robbins of Dell, andKyle Smith of Forrest City.Bass:John Agnew of Jonesboro, Nick Davis of Lake City, John Phillians of Wynne, Jeremy Smith of Wynne, andDrew Warren of Manila. Soprano I: Elli Fowler of Wynne, Emily Garren of Minneapolis, Minn., Erin Reagan of Munford, Tenn., Courtney Stringer of Jonesboro, Tess Wheetley of Advance, Mo. Soprano II:Michelle Byrd of Pine Bluff, Beth Dial of Malvern, Jennifer Hamilton of Paragould, Jesse Holder of Advance, Mo., Debra Hurley of Hot Springs, Jamie Pickett of Batesville, andSara Ray of Paragould. Alto I:Mercedes Grimm of Dexter, Mo., Sarah Hamilton of Paragould, Shannon O’Connor of Potomac, Md., Mary Owens of Jonesboro, Maegan Presson of Manila. Alto II: Harmony Cagle of Rector, Morgan Langley of White Hall, Abigail Price of Jonesboro, andSloane Simmons of Jonesboro.

Concert Choir members are:Soprano I:Jessica Baldwin of Paragould,Elli Fowler of Wynne, Emily Garren of Minneapolis, Minn., Mallory Gipson of Jonesboro, Becky Morrison of Jonesboro, Erin Reagan of Munford, Tenn., Kari Rickman of Jonesboro, Ginah Smith of White Hall, Tess Wheetley of Advance, Mo. Soprano II: Dennese Adkins of Cabot, Beth Dial of Malvern, Hannah McQuay of Jonesboro, Mary Owens of Jonesboro, Kate Smith of Wynne, Courtney Stringer of Jonesboro, and Sara Ray of Paragould. Alto I:Cori Beasley of Gilmer, Texas, Michelle Byrd of Pine Bluff, Mercedes Grimm of Dexter, Mo., Jesse Holder of Advance, Mo., Maegan Presson of Manila. Alto II: Harmony Cagle of Rector, Elizabeth Dryer of Jonesboro, Victoria Dryer of Jonesboro, Sarah Hamilton of Jonesboro, Morgan Langley of White Hall, Shannon O’Conner of Potomac, Md., Janette Robinson of Jonesboro, Mary Rougeau of Jonesboro, Sloane Simmons of Jonesboro. Tenor I: Jake Bushong of Paragould, Adonias Finch of Dyer, Tenn., Craig McAlister of Jonesboro, Geoffrey Payne of Doniphan, Mo., Chris Orr of Jonesboro, Craig Young of Cassopolis, MI. Tenor II: Chris Dyson of Harker Heights, Texas, Jordan Griffin of Little Rock, Ben McClellan of McDougal, Anthony McDermott of Marion, Nick Robbins of Dell, and William Weaver of Cabot. Baritone: Nick Davis of Lake City, Cameron Hepler of Dexter, Mo., Kyle Smith of Forrest City, Jacob Kelly of Jonesboro, Kale McDaniel of Jonesboro, and Reid Shelton of Jonesboro. Bass: Gabrien Brown of Newport, Blake Craft of Corning, Adam Earhart of Bryant, John Phillians of Wynne, Jeremy Smith of Wynne, Drew Warren of Manila, Corbin Watson of Jonesboro.

The University-Community Choir singers are: Soprano:Beth Dial of Malvern, Mallory Gipson of Jonesboro, Pershauna Johnson of Blytheville, Becky Morrison of Jonesboro, Kari Rickman of Jonesboro, Ginah Smith of White Hall, Susan Allen of Jonesboro, Haven Cagle of Rector, Megan Carter of Gosnell, Camille Clem of Harrisburg, Sharon Ward Cooper of Jonesboro, Lela Dudley of Blue Springs, Miss., Ashley Hall of Lake City, Karen Hodges of Jonesboro, Ashleigh Hutcheson of White Hall, Janeene Carter Lee of Gosnell, Nancy Nelson Johnson of Jonesboro, Lyjuan Kelley of Jonesboro, Nancy Miller of Jonesboro, Magan Mitleff of Harrisburg, Christy Moery of Jonesboro, Katie Nelson of Jonesboro, Vanessa Partida of Harrisburg, Cindy Sterling of Jonesboro, Yan Xuan Tan of Penang, Malaysia, Alicia Vernor of Harrisburg, Sarah Woodson of Harrisburg. Alto:Cori Beasley of Gilmer, Texas, Katherine Cole of Paragould, Elizabeth Dryer of Jonesboro, Victoria Dryer of Jonesboro, Sarah Hamilton of Paragould, Yooyeon Huh of South Korea,Michelle K. Murphy of Memphis, Shannon O’Connor of Potomac, Md., Mary P. Rougeau of Jonesboro, Suzanne Bushong of Paragould, Karen Cagle of Rector, Katie Cole of Paragould, Heather Honnoll of Jonesboro, Gayle Howe of Little Rock, Amy Jarrett of Harrisburg, Chelsea Jones of Harrisburg, Rhinda Kesselring of Jonesboro, Karie Larson of Jonesboro, Glenda McEuen of Paragould, Michele M. Murphy of Paragould, Anna Niemeyer of Jonesboro, Jeongeun Park of South Korea, Leslie Parsons of Jonesboro, Ashton Reddmann of Harrisburg, Crystal Richards of Osceola, Laura Richards of Osceola, Katherine Richards of Osceola, Tami Robbins-Rigus of Blytheville, Jane Tims of Jonesboro, Joniece Trammel of Pocahontas, Alex Traynam of Harrisburg, and Anna Webb of Harrisburg.Tenor:Chris Dyson of Harker Heights, Texas, Adonias Finch of Dyer, Tenn., Joonyong Lee of South Korea, Geoffrey Payne of Doniphan, Mo., Kyle Plunkett of Watson Chapel, Gwangho Son of South Korea, Craig Young of Cassopolis, MI, Chuck Allen of Jonesboro, David Cagle of Rector, Jeremy Carter of Paragould, Wesley Hooper of Harrisburg, Craig McAlister of Jonesboro, Jay Shepherd of Paragould, andBill Weaver of Cabot.Bass:Gabrien Brown of Newport, Adam Earhart of Bryant, Cameron Hepler of Dexter, Mo., Jacob Kelley of Jonesboro, Reid Shelton of Jonesboro, Corbin Watson of Jonesboro, Gene Baker of Jonesboro, Jarvis Brodie of Jonesboro, DeWayne Brunson of Harrisburg, Kelly Craft of Jonesboro, Nick Davis of Lake City, Markham Howe of Little Rock, David Jeong of Jonesboro, William Kazyak of Manila, David Lyttle of Blytheville, Ky Pugh of Paragould, David Rickman of Jonesboro.

Members of the ASU Concert Orchestra include: First Violin: Kate Ryan of Memphis, Sarabeth Overcash of Brinkley, Bill Keisker of Jonesboro, Roby Johnson of Jonesboro, Anastasia Tarkington of Jonesboro, Hope Smith of Jonesboro. Second Violin: Ann Swaty of Jonesboro, Yuka Maeda of Hokkaido, Japan, Yachi Wu of Inner Mongolia, China, Yoobin Jeong of Seoul, Korea, Darnell Rancifer of Jonesboro, Evan Marshall of Paragould, and Jennifer Hutchinson of Jonesboro. Viola: Ashley Reeves of Memphis and Marcia Burns of Jonesboro. Cello: Sara Rickman of Conway, Meghan Matthews of Jonesboro, John Hegger of Jonesboro, Ena Sano of Kawasaki, Japan, and Rick Burns of Jonesboro. Bass: Terrell Montgomery of Fort Smith. Flute/Piccolo: Erynn Fenner of Jonesboro, Brittney Cheek of Highland, Pershauna Johnson of Blytheville, and Lauren Henderson of Piggot. Oboe/English Horn: Daniel Estes of Irving, Texas, Joshua Moss of Conway, Janie Walls of Wynne, and Erin Graham of Southhaven, Miss. Clarinet: Drew Hampton of Des Arc, Taryn Parker of Nettleton, Michelle Davis of Jonesboro and S’Bastien Isom of Paragould. Bass Clarinet: Lauren Dorman of Harrisburg. Bassoon: Josh McFalls of Searcy, and Jeremy Moran of Fort Smith. Horn: Greg Osborne of Jonesboro, Andrew Webb of Dexter, Mo., Alex Jones of Nettleton, and Tanner McKnight of Wynne. Trumpet: Matt Penny of Jonesboro, Landon Miller of Batesville, and Tim Moore of Dexter, Mo. Trombone: Alex McClung of Trumann, Adam Waddell of Nettleton, and Brolin Brown of Sherwood. Tuba: Charles Willis of Fort Smith. Timpani/Percussion: Dylan DiMauro of Bolton, N.Y., Adam Inman of Hoxie, Gabrien Brown of Newport, and Keyven Dunn of Poplar Bluff, Mo.

For more information about the concert or ASU music, contact the music office at (870) 972-2094.