Combined choirs and orchestra perform “Messiah.”
Dr. Brent Ballweg, Burton H. Patterson professor of music and director of choral activities, conducts the performance of “Messiah.”
Dr. Louima Lilite (tenor), associate professor of music, performs during “Messiah.”
The University Ringers, directed by Dr. Lee Hinson, professor of church music and worship and music, welcome guests with pre-service music in the Raley Chapel foyer.
Twenty outstanding seniors were honored during the event. They participated in “hanging the green.” Pictured: Honoree Kenna Stanton, left, is escorted by Sam Melton.
Hanging of the Green Features “Messiah” Performance on Bison Hill
December 5, 2016
Oklahoma Baptist University presented its 79th annual Hanging of the Green Christmas program Saturday, Dec. 3. The evening featured a presentation of Handel’s “Messiah.”
The performers for this year’s Hanging of the Green included the Bison Glee Club, directed by Dr. Christopher Matthews, dean of the Warren M. Angell college of fine arts; University Chorale, directed by Dr. Brent Ballweg, Burton H. Patterson professor of music and director of choral activities; University Ringers, directed by Dr. Lee Hinson, professor of church music and worship and music; and the Bisonette Glee Club, directed by Dr. James Vernon, professor of music.
Soloists included Rebecca Ballinger, assistant professor of voice, soprano; Rebecca Ambrosini, professor of voice at Southern Nazarene University, alto; Dr. Louima Lilite, associate professor of music, tenor; and Dr. Stephen Sims, assistant professor of music, bass.
A group of outstanding seniors, nominated and voted upon by OBU faculty, were recognized during the program. The honorees included Zach Clark, Oklahoma City; Morgan Taylor Groves, New Castle, Colorado; Noah Golaboff, Harker Heights, Texas; Kathleen JoAnn Houston, Fort Worth, Texas; Isaac Gray, Shawnee, Oklahoma; Ashley Rae King, Yukon, Oklahoma; Chase Lanphear, Kansas City, Missouri; Hannah Evans, Chandler, Oklahoma; Jinny Parra, Santiago, Dominican Republic; and Elyse Sumie Kini Kusakabe, Makawao, Hawaii.
Additional honorees included Brynden Pitzer, Edmond, Oklahoma; Quentesa R.M. Garraway, Lacey, Washington; Cody Soots, Owasso, Oklahoma; Elise Jones, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Clay Smith, Bedford, Texas; Hannah Cantrell, Fort Gibson, Oklahoma; Dakota Unruh, Elk City, Oklahoma; Bethany Meraz, Oklahoma City; Michael Vetter, Marburg, Germany; and Kenna Stanton, Lawton, Oklahoma.
The combined choirs and orchestra then performed all of part I and selections from part II of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah.” Ballweg conducted the performance.