CANYON, Texas — Beautiful music will ring out at West Texas A&M University with three free concerts by student ensembles from the School of Music in the coming week.
Fostering an appreciation of the arts is a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World .
That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $150 million.
For information, visit wtamu.edu/music or call 806-651-2840.
WT Percussion Ensemble
The WT Percussion Ensemble will perform a piece by a Canyon composer at its Nov. 7 concert.
The student ensemble—under the direction of Dr. Susan Martin Tariq and Caleb Martin, a graduate music performance student from Plainview—will perform at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall on the WT campus in Canyon.
Admission is free.
The concert will feature “AXIOM,” an original work by Eric Rath, the Canyon High School band director and a WT alumnus. Rath is a frequently published author and composer.
The concert also will include keyboard percussion arrangements of “Balalaika” and “Yes! We Have No Bananas” by William Kahn; “Fandango 13” by Michael Burritt; “Valencia” by Ney Rosauro”’ and “The Palace of Nine Perfections,” a percussion ensemble classic by Eric Ewazen.
Ensemble members are Brianne Adkins, a freshman music education major from Canyon; Aidan Caballero, a sophomore music education major from Odessa; Cooper Delgado, a junior music technology major from Childress; Hien Doan, a senior music education and music performance major from Amarillo; Piper Fowler, a junior music performance major from Amarillo; Colton Gallandat, a junior music education major from Joshua; Brandon Garcia, a sophomore music education major from Amarillo; Payton Hayes, a sophomore music education major from Midland; Haley Hunter, a senior music education major from Monahans; Colton Leadingham, a freshman music education major from Odessa; Brogan Lichte, a senior music education major from Littlefield; Mason McWest, a sophomore music education major from Amarillo; Hannah Metcalf, a freshman music education major from Joshua; Paden Mick, a sophomore music education major from Dimmitt; Tristan Mouw, a senior music technology major from Amarillo; Charles Neal, a junior music technology major from Canyon; John O’Brien, a sophomore music education major from Anna; and Melinda Thomas, a sophomore music education major from Amarillo.
For information, call 806-651-2840.
WT Jazz Bands
The WT Jazz Bands will offer a night of high-energy performances at its Nov. 9 concert.
The full-sized big bands will perform at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9 in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall on WT’s Canyon campus.
Admission is free.
Jazz Band I, under the direction of Doug Storey, TITLE, will perform “North Shore Morning” by Matt Harris, “Nica’s Dream” by Horace Silver, “Look Ahead” by Pat Metheny and “The Phat Pack” and “Sing Sang Sung” by Gordon Goodwin.
Jazz Band II, under the direction of Dr. James Barger, associate professor of saxophone, will perform “Straight No Chaser” by Thelonious Monk, “Kids Are Pretty People” by Thad Jones, “State Line Strut” by Ellen Rowe, “Slightly Out of Tune (Desafinado)” by Antonio Carlos Jobim and “Indian Lady” by Don Ellis.
“This concert promises an exciting musical journey,” Barger said. “The program will highlight our students on the music of jazz legends such as Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Thad Jones, and Antonio Carlos Jobim, contrasted by contemporary jazz composers the likes of Pat Metheny and Gordon Goodwin.”
Jazz I members include Dillon Martin, a junior music education major from Odessa; Emanuel Garcia, a sophomore music education major from Dumas; Zach Limb, a senior music education major from Midland; Joseph Fondren, a freshman music education and performance major from Arlington; Carter Rybarski, a senior music technology major from Brenham; Emily Sotelo, a graduate student in music performance from Midland; Adam Johnson, a junior music education major from Springtown; Giselle Martinez, a freshman music education major from Amarillo; Maxwell Gray, a senior music education and performance major from Tomball; Spencer Owens, a junior music education major from Levelland; Taylor Martindell, a freshman music technology major from Amarillo; James Selman, a junior music education major from Amarillo; Justin Slaughter, a senior music education major from Odessa; Caleb Hesse, a junior piano performance pedagogy and music composition major from Bushland; Joe David Romo, a senior music education major from Amarillo; Tristan Mouw, a senior music technology major from Amarillo; and Payton Hayes, a sophomore music education major from Midland.
Jazz Band II members include Katie Aschoff, a graduate student in saxophone performance from David City, Nebraska; Shawn Frausto, a senior music education major from Amarillo; Orlando Moreno, a sophomore music technology major from Stamford; Grace Lindauer, a graduate student in conducting from Fort Worth; Winter Hartnett, a freshman music education major from Bryan; Emily Sotelo, a graduate student in music performance from Midland; Diego Arias, a sophomore music education and performance major from Amarillo; Jack Sprague, a sophomore music technology major from Amarillo; Nassir Reyes, a junior music education major from Shallowater; James Selman, a junior music education major from Amarillo; Brandon Trinh, a junior music performance major from Frisco; Cayden Chazarreta, a freshman music education major from Fort Worth; Gavin Poole, a sophomore music performance major from Clifton; Trey Ferguson, a sophomore music education major from Booker; Carson King, a sophomore music education major from Rockdale; Brogan Lichte, a senior music education major from Littlefield; and Hien Doan, a senior music education and performance major from Amarillo.
WT Brass Choir
The WT Brass Choir will send audience members soaring to a Mediterranean paradise at its fall concert.
The ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall on the WT campus.
Admission is free.
The concert’s highlight will be a performance of Ottorino Respighi’s “Pines of Rome,” which is “renowned for its evocative portrayal of Roman landscapes and historical narratives through a captivating symphonic journey,” said director Dr. Guglielmo Manfredi, professor of music.
“Inspired by the beauty of Rome’s majestic pine trees, Respighi’s masterful orchestration vividly captures the essence of different locations, each portrayed through a blend of rich harmonies, expressive melodies, and powerful crescendos,” Manfredi said.
The concert also will feature “Fanfare Canzonique” by Brian Balmages and “Nimrod” from “Enigma Variations” by Edward Elgar.
Ensemble members include Emily Sotelo, a graduate student in music performance from Midland; Adam Johnson, a junior music education major from Springtown; Brayden York, a junior music education major from Odessa; Giselle Martinez, a freshman music education major from Amarillo; Diego Arias, a sophomore music education and performance major from Amarillo; Seth Meason, a junior music education major from Amarillo; Norrin Hogdson, a senior music education major from Odessa; Roy Brown, a sophomore agribusiness and economics major from Menard; Christopher Santiago, a junior music education major from Odessa; Elliott Lewis, a freshman music education major from College Station; Abraham Wood, a senior music performance major from Floresville; Spencer Owens, a junior music education major from Levelland; Brandon Trinh, a junior music performance major from Frisco; Gavin Poole, a sophomore music performance major from Clifton; Jack Montgomery, a sophomore music education major from College Station; Patrick Lucas, a graduate student in music from Odessa; Wyatt Hayes, a junior music performance major from McKinney; Chema Garcia, a senior music education major from Wellington; Brandon Garcia, a sophomore music education major from Amarillo; Payton Hayes, a sophomore music education major from Amarillo; and Mason McWest, a sophomore music education major from Amarillo.
