CANYON, Texas — A combined force of West Texas A&M University student musicians will perform a towering work of remembrance in honor of a beloved area music teacher.
Paying tribute to the late George Biffle, the WT Symphony Orchestra and Choirs will join forces to perform Johannes Brahms’ “Requiem” at 7:30 p.m. April 13 in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall.
Biffle was head of choral activities at WT from 1992 to 2003.
“I can’t overstate what an impact George Biffle had on choral singing in the Panhandle,” said Dr. Mark Bartley, director of orchestral activities, the Lilith Brainard Professor of Music and associate dean of the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities. “His outstanding musicianship, memorable quips and love for his students won’t soon be forgotten. This performance of the Brahms Requiem gives us the best way to pay tribute to the man, his work and his faith.”
The performance of “Requiem” also will feature vocal soloists Taylor Lindley, a soprano and graduate student in music performance from Pampa, and Dr. Sean Pullen, a baritone and WT director of choral activities.
General admission tickets are $10 for the public and free for WT students, faculty and staff with a Buff Gold Card. Tickets may be purchased at showtix4u.com/event-details/82918.
The concert will be preceded by a fundraising dinner meant to establish a vocal music scholarship in Biffle’s name. Reservations for the dinner are due April 7.
Biffle died in December 2023 after a lifetime spent in vocal music education. In addition to his decade at WT, he also taught at Austin Middle School, Amarillo High School, Amarillo College, McMurry University and the University of Western Alabama.
The scholarship established in Biffle’s name is part of several ongoing efforts to raise $2 million for vocal scholarship endowments to make the WT School of Music more competitive when recruiting promising singers.
A full roster of orchestra and choir members is below.
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 nearly $160 million.
Orchestra Roster
1st Violin
João Paulo Grissoe, Linz, Brazil [Music Performance soph]
Keila Batista, São José, Brazil [Music Performance grad]
Jose Luis Forero Daza, Bogotá, Columbia [Music Performance grad]
Tatiana Kolesnik, Saint Petersburg, Russia [Music Performance senior]
Indra Aguirre Sankar, Bogotá, Columbia [Music Performance grad]
Wendy Lambert, Amarillo [Biology sophomore]
2nd Violin
Josenir Junior, Criciúma, Brazil [Music Performance grad]
Marissa Partida, Victoria [Music Performance senior]
Michael Mata, Victoria [Music Performance senior]
Cassidy DeMarais, Rockwall [Music Education, junior]
Luis Lozano, Bogotá, Columbia [Music Performance grad]
Elena Moreno, Amarillo [Music Education junior]
Viola
Jasmin Caldera, Amarillo [Health Sciences junior]
Patrick Daly-Williams, Amarillo [Music Education, soph]
Mia Brandyberry, Amarillo [English, Language Arts, Reading, senior]
J’Sean Berillo, Lubbock [Music Performance freshman]
Robert Hansen [WT Faculty]
Violoncello
Eduardo Esparza, Amarillo [Music Performance freshman]
Katherine Cook, Midland [Music Therapy soph]
Rodrigo Alonzo, Amarillo [Music Performance junior]
Tristan Tilman, Alamogordo, NM [Music Industry senior]
Bethany Mueller, Amarillo [Music Performance grad]
Drake Klepzig, Mt. Pleasant [Animal Science freshman]
Double Bass
Emily Arciniega, McKinney [Music Education junior]
Ryan Evans, Amarillo [Music Education junior]
Joe David Romo, Amarillo [Music Education senior]
Kortni VanDamme, Amarillo [Music Industry and Composition]
Marcus Curnutte, Midland [Music Education junior]
Carson King, Rockdale [Music Education soph]
Flute
Kyndahl Britton, Pflugerville [Music Performance junior]
Alejandra Mulgado, Clovis, NM [Music Performance grad]
Abigail Wade, Missouri City [Music Education and Performance senior]
Oboe
Tobin Brooks, Canyon [Music Education senior]
Marissa Portillo, Lubbock [Music Industry freshman]
English Horn
Abigail Hite, Nashville, TN [Music Performance senior]
Clarinet
Dayton Scholz, Amarillo [Music Education junior]
Joey Henriquez, Arlington [Music Industry senior]
Kaitlyn Rubinski, Amarillo [Music Education, junior]
Bassoon
Daniel Gonzales, Taylor [Music Education junior]
Kegan Otoole, Friendswood [Business Administration junior]
Katherine Clark, Canyon [Music Education junior]
Horn
Christopher Santiago, Odessa [Music Education junior]
Kinslea Blau, Odessa [Music Education freshman]
Kevin Olivas, Amarillo [Music Performance freshman]
Catherine Dockery, Wichita Falls [Music Therapy soph]
Trumpet
Emily Sotelo, Midland [Music Performance grad]
Brayden York, Odessa [Music Education junior]
Gisselle Martinez, Amarillo [Music Education freshman]
Adam Johnson, Springtown [Music Education senior]
Trombone
Abraham Wood, Floresville [Music Performance senior]
Spencer Owens, Levelland [Music Education junior]
Bass Trombone
Justin Slaughter, Odessa [Music Education senior]
Tuba
Lucas Martinez, Lewisville [Music Education senior]
Percussion
Hien Doan, Amarillo [Music Education senior]
Caleb Martin, Plainview* [Music Performance grad]
Colton Gallandat, Joshua [Music Education junior]
Mason McWest, Amarillo [Music Education soph]
Brandon Garcia, Amarillo [Music Education soph]
Mason Rumsey, Joshua [MA Undeclared]
Payton Hayes, Midland [Music Education soph]
Aidan Caballero, Odessa [Music Education soph]
Piano/Celeste
Piper Fowler, Amarillo [Music Performance junior]
Harp
Luke Rodriguez, Rosenberg [Music Technology senior]
Choir Roster
Soprano
Sarah Boydston—Amarillo, TX, Junior, Music Education
Selestial Calderon—El Paso, TX, Senior, Music Therapy
Keeli Crabtree—Placitas, NM, Junior, Biology, Pre-Veterinarian
Julia Douglas—Wichita, KS, Freshman, Music Therapy
Sarah Estes—Turpin, OK, Sophomore, Vocal Performance
Brinklee Fairchild—Midland, TX, Freshman, Vocal Performance
Hannah Felker—Amarillo, TX, Junior, Business Management
Joli Goebel—Amarillo, TX, Junior, Music Therapy
Lia Gonzalez—Brenham, TX, Freshman, Music Therapy
Monica Hernandez—Canyon, TX, Freshman, Early Childhood Education
Erin Hinds—Amarillo, TX, Senior, Vocal Performance/Instrumental Education
Gracie Ingham—Amarillo, TX, Senior, Political Science
Taylor Lindley—Pampa, TX, Graduate Student, Vocal Performance
Kinsey Newman—Bushland, Junior, Music Technology
Kylee Novak—Amarillo, TX, Freshman, Early Childhood Education
Sauncy Reddick—Beaver, OK, Senior Music Education
Julianna Rodriguez—El Paso, TX, Junior, Musical Theater
Lorelei Sicks—Amarillo, TX, Junior, Music Therapy
Karley Thomas—Amarillo, TX, Freshman, Wildlife Biology, Pre-Veterinarian
Alto
Melissa Arevalo– Devine, TX, Junior, Music
Caroline Cooper—Midlothian, TX, Junior, Music Education
McKenna Cooper—Midlothian, TX, Senior, Music Therapy
Geraldine Dingman—Frisco, TX, Junior, Vocal Performance
Jincy Fuller—McKinney, TX, Junior, Piano Pedagogy
Rebecca Hall—Show Low, AZ, Junior, English Education
Abigail Hite—Nashville, TN, Senior, Music Education, Instrumental Performance
Austen Jones—Amarillo, TX, Junior, Music Technology
Brooklynn King—Pearland, TX, Sophomore, Vocal Performance
Zoe Kizziar—Canyon, TX, Freshman, Music Education
Hannah Lannou—Canyon, TX, Freshman, Theater Education
Danielle Mackeown—Amarillo, TX, Freshman, Marketing
Edna Orona—El Paso, TX, Sophomore, Music Education
Charlotte Plotts—Canyon, TX, Junior, Mathematics
Faith Powell—Amarillo, TX, Junior, Music Education
Hannah Ramsel—Midland, TX, Freshman, Music Therapy
Elaina Robinson—Amarillo, TX, Senior, Elementary Education
Zara Salazar—Canyon, TX, Freshman, Music Education
Hailey Williams—Wolfforth, TX, Sophomore, English
Tenor
Rayden Caster—Canyon, TX, Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering
Connor Cooksey—San Antonio, TX, Sophomore, Music Education
Caedon Dietz—Dresden, Germany, Sophomore, Music Technology
Kyler Hilton—Amarillo, TX, Sophomore, Music Education
Brady Fellers—Borger, TX, Junior, Music Education
Benjamin Kerley—Amarillo, TX, Freshman, Business Management
Brendan King—Pearland, TX, Sophomore, Music Education
Alberto Macias—Hart, TX, Senior, Studio Art and Management
Joshua Moreno—Canyon, TX, Junior Music Education
Gideon Talley—Canyon, TX, Sophomore, Music Technology
Bass
Korbin Cole—Pampa, TX, Freshman, Music Education
Ethan Evers—Canyon, TX, Digital Communication and Media
Sergio Gonzalez—Midland, TX, Post Graduate, Music Therapy
Eduardo Guaderrama—Friona, TX, Graduate Student, Choral Conducting
Kelton Harbison—Canyon, TX, Sophomore, Music Education
Madison Jonas—Amarillo, TX, Senior, Vocal Performance
Ethan Klein—Sioux Falls, SD, Junior, Computer Information Systems
Elliott Lewis—College Station, TX, Freshman, Music Education
Mark Pinkerton—Canyon, TX, Freshman, Mechanical Engineering
Logan Warren—Littlefield, TX, Senior, Music Education
