The instrumental ensembles of Austin College, under the direction of Dr. Ricky Duhaime, will present their annual fall concert on Monday, November 14, at 7:30 p.m. in Wynne Chapel on the Austin College campus. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Music Department at Austin College at 903.813.2251.
The first half of this fall’s concert will be devoted to the Austin College Chamber Orchestra. The group’s first performance, The Prayer of Saint Gregory by the Armenian-American composer Alan Hovhaness, features guest trumpet soloist and Austin College trumpet instructor Mr. Michael Walker. That piece will be followed by a contemporary composition for strings entitled Drifen by American composer Shirl Jae Atwell. Drifen won the 1997 Texas Orchestra Directors Association composition contest.
The second half of the concert will feature the Greater Texoma Jazz Ensemble, performing a variety of big band charts in both traditional and contemporary styles. Soloists will include James Cater, alto saxophone; John Vietta, trumpet; and Phil Pitts, piano.
The Chamber Orchestra is comprised of Austin College students as well as community members from across Northeastern Texas. Students with majors and minors from across the College are represented, with varying years of collegiate experience and professional interests.
The Greater Texoma Jazz Ensemble consists of students, faculty, and community members from throughout the region, with performance venues this year including Denison, Bells, Sherman, and Durant.
Dr. Duhaime, Mildred S. Mosher Professor of Music, has been a member of the Austin College music faculty since 1978
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.