Nine to Perform Senior Recitals

February 27, 2002

Nine Oklahoma Baptist University senior music majors will take the final bow of their college careers this week and next during several senior recitals.

All recitals will be in the university's Yarborough Auditorium and are open to the public.

Caleb Harris, a piano performance major from Gruver, Texas, will perform his senior piano recital April 1 at 7:30 p.m. He is from the studio of Dr. Ron Lewis, OBU professor of piano.

James Alan Brandt, a music education major from Okemah, and Amy Branscum, a music education major from Morrison, will perform a joint instrumental recital April 4 at 8:30 p.m.

Brandt, a trombonist, is from the studio of Dr. Jim Hansford, OBU professor of music, and Branscum, a saxophonist, is from the studio of Dr. Christopher Bade, OBU associate professor of music.

Stephanie Elizabeth Norton, a piano performance major from Winters, Texas, will perform her senior piano recital April 7 at 4:30 p.m. Norton, a piano performance major, is from the studio of Dr. Ann Gipson, associate professor of piano at OBU.

Amy Powell, a music education major from Borger, Texas, will perform a senior voice recital April 8 at 7 p.m. Powell, a soprano, is from the studio of Rhetta Hudson, OBU associate professor of music.

Scott Williams, a music theory and composition major from Raytown, Mo., will present a recital of his compositions April 8 at 8:30 p.m. Williams is from the studio of Dr. Nancy Lippens, professor of music at OBU.

Darin Chapin, a music education major from Coal City, Ill., and Jesse Graver, a music education major from Wagoner, will perform a joint voice recital April 9 at 7 p.m.

Chapin, a baritone, and Graver, a tenor, are both from the studio of Norma Partridge, associate professor of music at OBU.

Soprano Aubrey Billingsley, a vocal performance major from Norman, will present her senior voice recital April 9 at 8:30 p.m. She is from Hudson's studio.

Brandt is on the president's honor roll and is a recipient of the music talentship and the music department scholarship. He is historian of the local chapter of Music Educator's National Conference and is a member of OBU's brass quintet. He is the son of Don and Kay Brandt of Okemah.

Powell is a distinguished scholar and has been listed on the president's honor roll every semester. She is a recipient of a vocal talentship and the music endowed scholarship.

She is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, and the University Chorale. She has been a soloist in three Concerto Arias and she played the lead role in OBU and Shawnee Little Theatre's production of Crazy for You. She has been a soloist in the Messiah Oratorio and a semi-finalist and finalist at the state and regional NATS competition.

Powell is the daughter of Anthony and Marcia Powell of Borger, Texas.

Williams has been listed on the dean's honor roll at OBU and received a talentship award. He served as historian for the University Chorale, chaplain and treasurer for Lambda Chi Lambda and directed the Campus Activities Board Christmas Banquet and Freshman Follies. Williams is the son of David and Marilyn Williams of Raytown, Mo.

Norton has been listed on the dean's honor roll for several semesters and is a recipient of the Dr. Albert J. and Laura Belle Geiger Scholarship, the Clair and Ruth McGavern Piano Scholarship and the Stith Memorial Music Scholarship, among others.

She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota and Phi Eta Sigma. She participated in the Ladies Music Club Auditions and the OMTA Auditions. Norton is the daughter of Donald and Janet Norton of Winters, Texas.

Billingsley has been listed on the president's honor roll and in Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She has served as president of the University Chorale, president of the French club, secretary of Omicron Delta Kappa honor society and Sigma Alpha Iota social chair.

She has been a three year performer in OBU's Concerto Aria and has appeared in OBU's production of The Marriage of Figaro and the OBU and SLT production of Crazy for You. She is the daughter of Jerry and Barbara Billingsley of Norman.

Graver has been listed on the dean's honor roll and is a recipient of several scholarships, including the B.B. McKinney Scholarship, Performer's Scholarship and the Baptist Foundation Scholarship.

He is president of Phi Mu Alpha and social chair of the University Chorale. He has been a Student Government Association senator and was class treasurer is freshman and sophomore years. He has earned a second place finish at three annual state NATS competitions.

Graver has sung in the Falls Creek Praise Team for three summers and has led worship in OBU's chapel services. He is the son of Dr. Wesley and Elizabeth Graver of Wagoner and is married to Andrea.

The recitals partially fulfill the requirements for the bachelor of music degree in music from OBU.