Eight Students to Perform as Soloists in OBU’s Concerto-Aria Concert Feb. 23

February 7, 2025

The OBU Division of Music will present the 51st annual Concerto-Aria concert in the OBU Recreation and Wellness Center on Sunday, Feb. 23, on the OBU campus in Shawnee. Eight students will perform as soloists, all accompanied by a full orchestra. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. and the public is invited to attend the free event.

The first Concerto-Aria concert was organized in 1974 as a way for outstanding musical performers to have the opportunity to appear with a live orchestra and perform repertoire from the great catalogues of piano concertos and opera arias. Some years later, instrumental concertos and other works were added to the performances, including original compositions by student composers.

The Concerto-Aria Orchestra is composed of students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the public. Dr. Timothy Kaiser, director of instrumental activities and assistant professor of instrumental music education, will conduct the orchestra.

Ryleigh Andrews, mezzo-soprano and senior music education major from Choctaw will perform “Laurie’s Song” from The Tender Land by Aaron Copland.

Mandolin Greene, sophomore piano performance and pedagogy major from Moore, will perform “Adagio sostenuto” from Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18 by Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Elizabeth Houser, senior music composition major from Stillwater, will perform “Adagio assai” from Piano Concerto in G Major M. 83 by Maurice Ravel.

Isaac Melton, pianist and junior music composition major from Ponca City, will introduce the world premiere performance of his composition, “What’s That, Beyond the Trees?”

Cailey Morris, pianist and senior piano performance and pedagogy major from Enid, will perform “Andante” from Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102 by Dmitri Shostakovich.

Kaitlyn O’Brien, pianist and junior musical arts major from McKinney, Texas, will perform “Vivace” from Piano Concerto in D Major Hob. XVIII: II by Franz Joseph Haydn.

Grace Palmer, pianist and junior piano performance and pedagogy major from Oklahoma City, will perform “Andante” from Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major K. 467 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Kaylee Spangler, flutist and junior musical arts major from Glenpool, will perform Serenade for Flute, Harp, and Strings, Op. 35 by Howard Hanson.

Learn more about the Division of Music at OBU.