Current Students & Alumni News
Darren Woods Master Class......
Darren Woods, General Director of Fort Worth Opera Company will be on the OBU campus to do a talk and master class on Friday, September 26, 2008. Woods will share his "Ten Commandments" on audition techniques, and serve as master teacher for the following OBU voice principals:
Hannah Chapman, Junior BM Vocal Performance major
Chelsea Cunningham, Sophomore BM Vocal Performance major
Danielle DeNicola, Sophomore BM Vocal Performance major
Teresa Hargrove, Freshman BM Vocal Performance major
Julie Robinson, Senior BM Vocal Performance major
Josiah Wheeler, Sophormore BME Choral major
Pirates of Penzance Cast Announced......
Co-Directors Drs. Jon and Glenda Secrest, have announced the cast for the OBU Opera Theatre's upcoming production of The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan. The comic opera will be presented November 20-23 in the Jones Performing Arts Center. The evening performances on the 20, 21, and 22 will begin at 7:30 PM. The matinee performance on the 23rd will be given at 2:30 PM.
The cast features:
Bryan Brooks as the Major General Stanley
Sean Wilson as the Pirate King
Doug Brady as Samuel
Jacob Watson (11/20-11/22) and Max Swarner (11/23) as Frederic
Matt Landers as The Sergeant of Police
Hannah Chapman (11/20-11/22) and Grace Johnson (11/23) as Mabel
Chelsea Cunningham (11/20-11/22) and Julie Robinson (11/23) as Edith
Stephnie Batsel (11/20-11/22) and Danielle DeNicola (11/23) as Kate
Ashley Wieronski as Isabel
Abby Adams as Ruth
Incoing Freshman Class is one of the most talented ever.....
The OBU Vocal Studies Program is pleased to announce the inclusion of the following entering Freshman as part of their program:
Nikki Anderson of Heber Springs, AR
Mark Bartels of Henderson, TX
Taylor Bass of Houston, TX
Stephanie Batsel of Mansfield, TX
Bryan Brooks of Rockwall, TX
Kelli Caldwell of Roanoke, TX
Jennifer Carney of Van Buren, AR
Kinsey Carpenter of Mason, TN
Rachel Chapman of Rowlett, TX
Jenna Cummings of Jacksonville, AR
Cory Epps of Wynne, AR
Cessany Ford of Paragould, AR
Anna Ganong of Jonesboro, AR
Teresa Hargrove of Arlington, TX
Rachel Harris of Springdale, AR
Emily Haynes of Garland, TX
Robert Hill of Malvern, AR
Sadie Hillis of Henderson, TX
Megan Huddleston of Mexquite, TX
Trey Huenefeld of Heber Springs, AR
Shannon Hunt of Longview, TX
Leslyn Ichter of Conway, AR
Grace Johnson of Tyler, TX
Kathryn Kellogg of Sherwood, AR
Kate Kremer of Ballwin, MO
Xavier Lagunas of Arlingtion, TX
Moriah Patterson of Sheridan, AR
Preston Pickett of Dallas, TX
Hannah Pierce of Fort Worth, TX
Jeremy Prine of DeWitt, AR
Angie Rosenblatt of Grapevine, TX
Valerie Smith of Plano, TX
Max Swarner of Dallas, TX
Blake Wallace of Bluejacket, OK
Ashley Wieronski of Southaven, MS
Andy Williams of Wynne, AR
STEPHEN RAY MAKES GRAND FINALS IN METROPOLITAN OPERA NATIONAL COUNCIL AUDITIONS!!!!
Senior Voice Principal Stephen Anthony Ray achieved national distinction by being one of nine singers chosen for the Grand Finals of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Ray sang on the Lincoln Center stage accompanied by Maestro Stephen Lord and the MET Orchestra, on Sunday afternoon, February 23, 2008. He presented arias from Don Pasquale and Porgy and Bess, and although Stephen was not named one of the Grand Prize winners, he still receives a significant cash award and the satisfaction of knowing he was selected to be one of the top nine singers in America from a pool that began with about two thousand singers. CONGRATUALTIONS STEPHEN!!!!
Arkansas NATS 2008....
The annual Arkansas Chapter NATS Conference and Auditions were held February 29 and March 1 at
Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, AR. Finalists from OBU include Caitlin Secrest, second place in High School Women, a student of Drs. Glenda and Jon Secrest; Elisabeth Hipp, third place in Freshman Women, a student of Dr. Glenda Secrest; Jacob Watson, first place in Freshman Men, a student of Dr. Jon Secrest; Hannah Chapman, second place in Sophomore Women, a student of Dr. Glenda Secrest; Andrew Miller, first place in sophomore men, a student of Dr. Jon Secrest; Chris Straw, second place in Junior Men, a student of Dr. Jon Secrest; Melody Taylor, first place in Senior Women, a student of Dr. Glenda Secrest; Caitlin Secrest, first place in High School Music Theater, a student of Drs. Glenda and Jon Secrest; Doug Brady, first place in Lower Division Music Theatre, a student of Dr. Glenda Secrest; Sean Wilson, second place in Lower Division Music Theatre, a student of Dr. Jon Secrest; Jacob Watson, third place in Lower Division Music Theatre, a student of Dr. Jon Secrest; Samantha Parrish, fourth place in Lower Division Music Theatre, a student of Dr. Jon Secrest; Kyle Huey, first place in Upper Division Music Theatre, a student of Dr. Jon Secrest; and Chris Straw, thrid place in Upper Division Music Theatre, a student of Dr. Jon Secrest.
Tenth Anniversary Shambarger Competition a HUGE Success-
Sixteen OBU voice principals competed in the Tenth Anniversary edition of the Mary Shambarger Competition for Singers. The repertoire for this year's competition consisted of Arias from Opera and Oratorio. Through the generosity of private donors, the individual prizes were increased dramatically. There were also special Tenth Anniversay encouragement awards presented to six singers. The names of the winners are listed below:
First Place, $650, Sean Wilson, a student of Dr. Jon Secrest; Second Place, $450, April Roberts, a student of Mrs. Mary Worthen; Third Place, $350, Abby Adams, a student of Dr. Jon Secrest; Fourth Place(tie), $250, Christy Lord, a student of Dr. Glenda Secrest; Fourth Place(tie), $250, Andrew Miller, a student of Dr. Jon Secrest; and Honorable Mention, $200, Angela Blooldworth, a student of Mrs. Mary Worthen.
Encouragement Awards in the amount of $50 were given to the following students:
Hannah Chapman, a student of Dr. Glenda Secrest; Jessica Gibson, a student of Mrs. Mary Worthen;
Michael Krikorian, a student of Dr. Glenda Secrest; Matt Landers, a student of Dr. Jon Secrest; and Julie Robinson, a student of Mrs. Mary Worthen.
STEPHEN RAY WINS REGIONAL MET AUDITIONS-AGAIN!!!!
For the second time in three years, Stephen A. Ray, senior music major from Sherwood, AR, has been named the winner of the Mid-South Regional Metropolitan Opera Auditions. Only once before in its illustrious forty-seven year history, has there been a multiple winner (Kristin Lewis; 1998, 2001). Past winners in the region who have gone on to notable opera careers include Lewis, Gail Robinson, Cheryl Studer, Delores Ziegler, Kallen Esperian, and Beth Clayton. Ray competed with ten other singers who hail from locations such as Lexington, Kentucky; Bloomington, Indiana; Jacksonville, Arkansas; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Birmingham, Alabama; Cordova, Tennessee; Knoxville, Tenessee; and Tallahassee, Florida. The competition was held in the Germantown Performing Arts Center, Germantown, TN, on Saturday, January 19, 2008. The panel of notable judges included Metropolitan Opera appointed judge Richard Bado, Professor of Opera Studies and Director of the Opera Studies Program at the Shephard School of Music at Rice University, Houston, TX; Delores Ziegler, mezzo-soprano, international opera star whose career ranges from bel canto to verismo opera, recitals, and concert and music theatre performances; and Richard Best, a leading bass with the Metropolitan Opera Company from 1964 to 1984, who has also performed with the Santa Fe, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Philadelphia Opera, and Opera Theater of Saint Louis. Mr. Best is currently Professor of Voice at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Stephen selected Vision fugitive from Massenet's Herodiade as his opening selection, and the judges called for A Woman is a somtime thing from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess for his second selection. For his efforts, Stephen received the National Council Award from the Mrs. Edgar Tobin Endowment, an award of $800; a Mid-South Region Award of $1200; and the Helen Mosby-Gloria Nobles Award for Best Stage Presence, an award of $100. OBU Lecturer in Music, Cindy Fuller, served as Stephen's accompanist for the auditions. Stephen's foreign language diction and deportment coach is Dr. Glenda Secrest, Associate Professor of Music, and his voice teacher is Dr. Jon Secrest, Professor of Music at OBU.
Ray will travel to New York City in February, where he will compete with singers from the other national regions for a chance to be a national finalist. While in New York he will receive coaching from staff members at the Met and have the opportunity to view productions currently slated for performance.
Tenth Anniversary Shambarger Recital-February 26, 7:30 PM, Recital hall
The OBU Vocal Studies area will present former winners of the Mary Shambarger Competition for Singers in a recital commemorating the tenth anniversary of the competition. OBU alums and current majors who are scheduled to perform include Kirt Thomas, Chris Straw, Jenna Tucker, Christopher Riddle, Cliff House, Jessica Gartman, David Stanley, Joshua Payne, Heather Napier, and Stephen Ray.
Opera Theatre's Alice in Wonderland breaks box office record!!!!
Opera Theatre directors Jon and Glenda Secrest are thrilled with the audience response to this year's opera, Alice in Wonderland. Cummulative ticket sales for the production were nine-hundred twenty-one, surpassing last year's record of seven hundred. Audiences were filled with children of all ages and the Sunday afternoon matinee was actually the best attended performance of the four. Announcements about next year's production are forthcoming......
Southern Region NATS Auditions 2007
The Southern Region NATS Auditions for 2007 were held on the campus of the University of Mississippi in Oxrford, MS, November 8-10, 2007. Semi-finalists from OBU were from the studio of Anne Beloncik, Cortnie DeVore; from the studio of Stephen Garner, Josiah Wheeler; from the studio of Cory Schantz, Haley Broadaway and Danielle DeNicola; from the studio of Glenda Secrest, Doug Brady, Hannah Chapman, Elisabeth Hipp, Aaron Malcolm, Madi McCormack, Jessie Sanders, Caitlin Secrest, Shannon Stephens, and Melody Taylor; from the studio of Jon Secrest, Chris Straw, Isabelle Torres, Jacob Watson, Molly Jo Watts, Sean Wilson and Valerie Woodburn; and from the studio of Mary Worthen, Jennifer Neely and Maggie Taylor.
OBU students who were finalists include Chelsea Cunningham, a student of Dr. Jon Secrest, who placed 2nd in the Freshman Women division; Jacob Watson, a student of Dr. Jon Secrest, who placed 2nd in the Freshman Men division; Andrew Miller, a student of Dr. Jon Secrest, who placed 3rd in the Sophomore Men division; Krysteena Koiner, a student of Mrs. Mary Worthen, who placed 2nd in Lower division Music Theatre; Daniel Collier, a student of Cory Schantz and Anne Beloncik, who placed 3rd in Lower division Music Theatre; Lindsey Wright, a student of Mrs. Mary Worthen, who placed 4th in Lower division Music Theatre; Sam Parrish, a student of Dr. Jon Secrest, who placed 5th in Lower division Music Theatre, and Chris Straw, a student of Dr. Jon Secrest, who placed 2nd in the Upper division Musical Theatre division.
Graduates and Former Students
2008 BMMT graduate Angie Bloodworth has been cast in The Promise in Glen Rose, as Mary, mother of Jesus. She is planning to audition for Branson's Sight and Sound Productions and will move her career base to NYC in January of 09. (updated August 08)
2008 BAMT graduate Laura Medford most recently performed the role of Jane McDowell in the Stephen Foster Story, Bardstown, KY. She also played Cecille in their production of Annie. This fall, Laura has been hired for equity work in the Arkansas Repertory Theatre's production of Les Miserables. (updated August 08)
2008 BME graduate Alicia Whitaker is teaching K-5th grade music in Waynesville, Missouri. This school district is fairly large and includes six elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. (update August 08)
2008 BME graduate Sara Pevey is teaching K-4th grade music at Carver Elementary School in Marshall, TX, and plannin on getting Kodaly certification in the near future. (updated August 08)
2008 BA graduate Stephen Ray is enrolling in the Master of Music program in Vocal Performance and Opera at the Shephard School of Music; Rice University, Houston, TX. (updated August 08)
2008 BA graduate Kim Hull has recently begun working for the Arkansas Federal Bureau of Investigations in Little Rock, AR. (updated August 08)
2007 BMChurch Music graduate Aaron Williams joined the staff of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, AR, as a full time worship pastor. Fellowship has a wonderful Fine Arts program and he has the privilege of working with about fifty musicians in the program. He has also been touring with a worship band and leading worship at regional events. (updated August 08)
2007 BME graduate Kara Rainey is enrolling in the Master of Music program for Opera and Music Theatre at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. (updated August 08)
2007 BMPerformance graduate Aaron Harp is enrolling in the Master of Music in Vocal Performance at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. (updated August 08)
2007 BM Theory Composition graduate Valerie Woodburn has relocated in Chicago, IL, where she works as administrative assistant to the head of an interior design company. Valerie is keeping her singing chops up and preparing to audition for Chicago area vocal endeavors as soon as possible. (updated January 08)
2006 BM Church Music graduate Drew Greenway has been hired as Worship Pastor at Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, TX. He will also be persuing a master's degree in music and theology at Baylor university. His new e-mail contact is dgreenway@harriscreek.org. (update January 08)
2007 BM Music Theatre graduate Kirt Thomas was living in Branson, MO. and performing in the Shoji Tabucchi show. He has recently moved to Little Rock and is looking for work in the music field. (updated January 08)
2006 BA graduate Elizabeth Hall Hammon auditioned for and was added to the ranks of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra chorus for the 2007-2008 performance season. The chorus will perform Beethoven's 9th symphony in NYC during the upcoming season.
2007 BA Music Theatre graduate Jess White and 2006 BAMT graduate Kyle Thomas, who were married on July 7, have moved to Miami, FL. Kyle is taking over the Chair of the Theatre Department at Westminster Christian School as well as working to pursue his MA in Theatre. Jessica has completed auditions with Actor's Playhouse Miracle Miles and she will also be working the a community-oriented weekly children's program called "FamJamz".
Spring 2007 BA Music Theatre graduate Aaron House has been part of the Sight and Sound production of Noah, the Musical, in Branson, MO. Aaron plays one of Noah's sons in the production.(updated August 08)
2007 BA Music Theatre graduate Luke Bridges, spent this past summer doing summer stock theatre in Missouri, where he was a featured performer in productions of Cabaret and Fiddler on the Roof. This fall he will join the resident company of Arkansas' Repertory Theatre for their production of Les Miserable. (updated August 08)
Heather Baker Napier, 2005 BM Music Theatre graduate, and her husband Alden, are directors of a minstry called Ozone. Check out their website at www.Ozoneministries.com and click on the Springdale link. The kids they work with mostly come from under-privileged homes, and they counsel these students through bible study and music. They have really seen God work through their ministry! (updated August 07)
2002 BME graduate Bonnie Montgomery has been teaching Music Appreciation at Columbia College in Columbia, MO. She also sings with a professional early music ensemble, Armonia, which she helped form while a student at UMKC. They will be singing at the 2007 ACDA convention in Miami, FL. at the Spoleto festival, both during the summer of 07. She is also working on a short-length opera about Bill Clinton's adolescene in southwest Arkansas, as well as folk songs that she frequently performs in coffee houses in the Columbia area. (updated February 07)
2006 BME graduate Hailey Ford has recently been accepted from among 400-500 applicants into the graduate studies music theatre program at Oklahoma City University. This summer she will be part of the New Dawn singers who are stationed in Orlando, FL., where she will tour and perform Broadway, Pop, and Christian Contempory selections. (updated April 07)
2006 BAMT spring graduate Cliff House has just completed a summer acting and singing in Noah, the Musical in Branson, MO. The show is part of the Sight and Sound Productions. Cliff plays the role of Shem. (last update summer of 08)
2006 BA graduate Jessica Gartman is working for an accounting firm in Little Rock, AR. No doubt she will put her dual degrees in accounting and music to good use. Perhaps she can sing her monthly reports to her superiors. (last update summer of 06)
2005 BM Music Theatre graduate Andra Duncan is living in California and will pursue the Master's in Music Therapy from the University of the Pacific in Stockton. (last update summer of 06)
2005 BM Vocal Performance graduate Michelle Chapman has completed one and a half years of graduate study at the University of Southern Mississippi at Hattiesburg, MS, where she enrolled to pursue the Master's in Performance. Since her arrival on the USM campus, she has performed in La Traviata, a joint production between USM and the Mississippi Opera Company; performed Gretel in Hansel and Gretel; and is scheduled to play the role of Lucy in Menotti's The Telephone. She is also in Southern Chorale, Chamber Singers, and the Southern Miss Jazz Group. During the fall semester of 06, Michelle served as a graduate teaching assistant and taught voice to eleven students. Way to go Michelle!! Can't you find more to do?(last update January of '07)
2002 BMMusic Theatre graduate Kara Shaw recently returned from Japan, where she performed as part of a group called the Savoy Sisters, who formerly were associated with the Billy Vaughan Orchestra. They sang in Osaka, Wakayama, Nagoya, Okayama, Shixouka, and Tokyo. She also recently performed a corporate gig in Washington D.C., as Evita. Her future plans include a possible run with the show the Marvelous Wonderettes off Broadway in N.Y.C. (updated August 08)
Josh and Lyndsey Pounders have settled near Seattle, WA . Josh is the music director at First Baptist Church in Lakewood. Lyndsey teaches private voice lessons and stays at home with daughter, Lily Carolyn who is one year old.(last update summer of '06)
Jenna Williams Tucker, BM Vocal Performance, completed her coursework for the DMA in performance at LSU in the spring of 2007, and hopes to graduate in May of 2008. She recently finished singing Soeur Constance in Dialogues of the Carmelites and was cast as Despina in the fall production (06)of Cosi fan tutte. She also won the southern region NATSAA competition and competed in the national semi-finals during the National NATS Convention in Minneapolis during the summer of '06. Jenna and her husband are now living in El Dorado, AR, and she is teaching applied voice as an adjunct at OBU. (last update Sept. 07)
David, BM Vocal Performance,and Noelle, BA Music Theatre, Stanley have settled in the Dallas area and are spearheading a new performing group called the San Jacinto project. Check out their web site at www.sanjacintoproject.org. During their summer of 07, Noelle and David have been busy with a production of Little Women which received excellent reviews from the Dallas news. (last update August of 07)
Jeremy R. Franklin, BM Vocal Performance, 2001 graduate, has recently been added to the teaching faculty of Mesa State College in Grand Junction, CO. He serves as Lecturer in Musical Theatre and will direct their upcoming productions of Urinetown and The Boyfriend. (last update September 07)
Joshua Payne, BM Vocal Performance, released his second album during the month of February, 2007. The album, entitled "Same Shoes 2nd Verse ", is available on itunes and cdbaby . Check out the latest information about Josh at joshuapayne.com on the internet. Josh still owns the vintage clothing store in Hillboro Village, Tn, where all is going well. (last update April of '07)
Spring 2000 BME graduate Aaron Hawley has recently entered the Doctoral program at the University of North Texas. (updated January 08)
Rick Dildine, BA Theatre, has just completed his second season as Artistic Director for The Stephen Foster Story in Bardstown, KY. Rick was hired to replace Dr. Scott Holsclaw as Artistic Director for the 2005 season. Congratulations Rick!! He also completed his MFA at Brown University/Trinity Repertoire during the 2004-2005 academic year, and won a Kennedy Center Directing Fellowship to study with Ming Cho Lee. (last update summer of '06)
Kelsey Dime, BMChurch Music, served to prepare his congregations Christmas Production and has led his ministry through a seven week study on worship. He currently leads two different styles of worship service. (last update January of 07)
Former student Jeremy Rabe has left his performer/director position in Branson, MO., to join the performing troupe on the Carnival Cruise lines. While in Branson he was seen in Lost in the 50's; Red, Hot, and Blue; and served as producer and choreographer for the Starlite Kids Review. (last update summer of '03)
OBU graduate Matt Buffalo has performed in Branson, MO for many years. Buffalo has appeared in Mel Tillis, Pam Tillis, Yakov Smirnoff, Spirit of the Dance, the Miss USA pageant, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Celebrate. Matt is currently pursuing a MFA in theatre at the University of Indiana at Bloomington. During the summer of 08, Matt has been collecting equity points with the Utah Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City, Utah, where he performed in Fiddler on the Roof, Othello, and Cyrano. (updated summer 08)
Teresa Grinage Miller is teaching 5th and 6th grade music/choir at CHMS in Texarkana, AR. She and her husband Gary also teach preK choir at their church. Her newest adventure is Kindermusik. She is currently in training to be a Kindermusik educator in her community. Terri has been named the 2007 TEACHER OF THE YEAR in her district! Congrats Terri!!! (last update April'07)
Candice Lane Looney has just completed her first year performing a children's tour in West Virginia, and will return for a second year with the troupe later this summer. She is resident soprano for the troupe which consists of 3 female and 3 male singers, and they are performing School House Rock. She is also the newly appointed Music Director at Beckley Presbyterian Church, where she is responsible for musical ensembles and arrangement of touring artists. Earlier in the summer, Candice served as Music Director of a production of Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim. Her future plans include pursuing the Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy. (last update summer '04)
Julia McFerrin is currently performing on the Carnival Pride enjoying her third contract. Her travels with Carnival have take her to from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera. (last update summer '06)
B.J. Kyle is living in the Nashville, TN, area and playing with Nashville artist Craig Hand. They tour with Travis Tritt in May of this year. B.J. serves as Craig's musical director and plays keyboards, organ banjo, guitar, and sings backup.(last update summer '06)
Adam Langley is working on a M.Div and focusing his study on the hitorical and contemporary relationship between theology and the arts. He and his wife are living in Austin, TX. (last update summer of 06)
1996 BM Performance graduate Kevin Holt has been working in sales for the past eleven years, but recently returned to his passion, vocal performance, and plans to pursue a masters and doctorate in Vocal Performance very soon. He is living in Abilene, TX, and studying voice with former OBU Voice Faculty member, Dr. Diana Ellis.
(updated August 08)