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OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University

OBU Music Preparatory Choirs to Present Christmas Concert Dec. 3

December 1, 2017

The Music Preparatory Department Choirs at Oklahoma Baptist University will present a Christmas concert Sunday, Dec. 3, at 3 p.m. in Raley Chapel’s Potter Auditorium. The groups featured in the program include the Shawnee Honor Choir and the Concert Choir. The concert is free and open to the public.

For the 28th consecutive year, Shawnee Honor Choir will present its Christmas program in area schools. On Tuesday, Nov. 28, the choir performed at Dale, Family of Faith and North Rock Creek. On Friday, December 1, the choir will perform at South Rock Creek, Grove and Pleasant Grove.

In its 35th year, Shawnee Honor Choir, an auditioned group of third through seventh graders, conducted by Conchita Hansford, will open the program with “Sing We Now of Christmas,” a French carol, arranged by Joyce Eilers. They will continue with “Peaceful, Silent Night,” arranged by Ruth Elaine Schram; “The Virgin Mary had a Baby Boy,” a West Indian carol, arranged by Dorothy and Tom Christopherson; and “Minka,” a Russian Folk song, arranged by Jill Ann Jones. Nevaeh Gaines, Camryn Green, Estelle Lilite, Garrett McDonald, Jared Kolpin and Littie White will add percussion accompaniment to “The Virgin Mary.” The last songs include “Fa, La, La, La, La,” arranged by J. Paul Williams and Craig Curry and “Jingle All the Way” by James Pierpont.

Orff instrumentalists will perform “Rondo” by Carl Orff. These student performers include Estelle Lilite, Will Duran, and Emma Collins, soprano glockenspiels; Littie White, alto glockenspiel; Mary Lytle and Alexis Walker, soprano xylophones; Sarah Mashek and Kalyn Jones, alto xylophones; Brynna Raines, soprano metallophone; Ava Rawdon, alto metallophone; Adyson Farris, bass xylophone; Cael Blakemore, bass metallophone; Emmelyn Braddock, bass bar; Jared Kolpin, finger cymbals; and Garrett McDonald, drum.

To conclude the Shawnee Honor Choir portion of the concert, there will be an audience sing-a-long of Christmas songs accompanied by hand chimes. Hand chime performers include Indie Alexander, Jillian Askew, Hope Birdwell, Camille Blakemore, Sophie Canaga, Kally Folmar, Sierra Frailey, Allissa Galloway, Natalie Galloway, Meagan James, Kate Jennings, Jared Kolpin, Keylee Landes, Gabe Llanas, Garrett McDonald, Elaina Muprappallil, Emilee Prater, Sylvia Scott, Jael Winter and Jordan WInter.

The Concert Choir, comprised of high school students, and directed by Dr. Louima Lilite, will open with “Salmo 150” (Psalm 150) by Ernani Aguiar. Other Concert Choir selections include “Closer to You” by Jeremy Johnson; “Betelehemu” (Nigerian Carol) by Vla Olatunji and Wendel Whalum; “They’ll Know We are Christians” arranged by Louima Lilite; and “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” by Robert MacGimsey, arranged by Molly Ijames.

Combined choirs will perform “Night of Silence” by Daniel Kantor with soloists Mary Lytle, Estelle Lilite and Keylee Landes and “Merry Christmas to You All.”

All choirs have available space for the spring semester. To audition, students will simply be asked to sing “Happy Birthday.” To schedule an audition, visit the Prep Department webpage, call (405) 585-4329 or email prep@okbu.edu.