Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

OBU Plans Christmas Concert

In tradition of this season of giving, a group of students and faculty at Ouachita Baptist University have been putting the final touches on a community Christmas concert to be presented Thursday, December 5 and Saturday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m. in OBU's Jones Performing Arts Center.

The Division of Music and Department of Theatre Arts of the Bernice Young Jones School of Fine Arts will present its ever-popular Festival of Christmas program for the fifth consecutive year.

"The community has done so much for Ouachita and this is one small way we can show our appreciation," said Dr. Charles Wright, dean of the Jones School of Fine Arts and professor of music. "This is Ouachita's Christmas gift to the community."

Preparation for the production begins in early September. The week after Thanksgiving break all the performers join for practice in the Jones Center to put the whole program together. "It's really a team effort," said Wright.

The program is unique from others in that it is a "showcase of talent" involving vocalists and instrumentalists with student actors and actresses, he said.

The joint effort is not only entertaining to the audience, it provides educational experience for participating students. "A lot of our students are interested in performing and this gives them the opportunity to be part of a professional program," said Wright.

Thus far, students have had the privilege of performng to very enthusiastic crouds with the overwhelming positive reactions from the community.

According to Wright, the Thursday night audience is made up mostly of the local community and Saturday night tends to be the peak night for out-of-town visitors.

"We reach about a 100 mile radius, not including the parents of performers who travel from surrounding states to attend the show," Wright said.

The program consists of a wide variety of scared and secular Christmas music, including the traditional favorites.

"None of this would be possible were it not for the effort and hard work of talented faculty and dedicated students," Wright said.

Admission to the program is free on both dates, but seating is assigned on a reserve basis. In order to obtain the free tickets, persons should call 501-245-5129.

The show will include performances from the 140-voice Concert Choir, conducted by Wright; the Ouachita Singers, conducted by Dr. Charles Fuller; the Ouachita Sounds, conducted by Glenda Secrest; the Praise Singers, conducted by Diana Ellis; the Handbell Ringers, conducted by Russell Hodges; andf a 30-piece wind ensemble, conducted by Dr. Craig V. Hamilton.

Assisting in production are: Dr. Scott Holsclaw, program director, and Eric Phillips, technical director, assisted by John Tolbert. Mary Shambarger, chair of the department of applied music, will also assist in the production.