Austin College Concert Celebrates Fall of Berlin Wall Anniversary

 Austin College | Sherman, Texas | October 16, 2014

Austin College students and faculty will perform an anniversary

concert, “Twenty-Five Years of Freedom,” at Wynne Chapel on November 19 at 5 p.m. Presented by the Austin College German program and members of the Music Department, the concert and a reception following are free and open to the public.

Faculty Cathy Richardson, violin, and Ricky Duhaime, cello, will join Austin College senior Rizwan Jagani, on viola, to perform a string trio in G major (op. 16/6) by German composer Karl Friedrich Abel (1723-1787). Faculty John McGinn and Wolfgang Lueckel will perform piano duo pieces by Franz Shubert (1797-1828), including the famous “Fantasy in F minor” (op. 103 D940) that he wrote toward the end of his life and a cycle of three marches “Trios Marches Militaires” (op. 51). Austin College senior Allison Lloveras will perform a piano solo piece by Franz Liszt.

This is the last event in a series of events presented by the German program after Austin College’s selection by the German Embassy in Washington, D.C, to be a project partner for presentations on 25 Years Since Fall of the Berlin Wall. The wall came down on November 9, 1989, and marked a new era in German history. As a former symbol of repression, the fall of the Berlin Wall has become an icon of freedom and peaceful revolution, according to the embassy materials.

The German Embassy’s 25 Years Fall of the Berlin Wall website describes the campaign as an attempt not only to celebrate the fall of the wall but also to reflect on a formerly divided Germany. The anniversary was marked by several events on campus, headed by faculty and students from various disciplines, including art, music, and theatre, and included a campus essay contest and photo contest, a celebration of German food, a bilingual reading, and more.

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.

Austin College Choirs to Present Concert

Austin College | Sherman, TX
November 15, 2014

The choirs at Austin College will present a concert on Sunday,

Photo courtesy of  Austin College 

November 16, at 3 p.m. in Wynne Chapel on the Austin College campus. The concert is free and open to the public.

Four vocal ensembles will perform a wide variety of music including traditional a cappella choral music, music for women's choir, vocal jazz, and a cappella pop. The 45-voice Austin College A Cappella Choir will sing a range of traditional pieces from the Romantic and 20th century literature, as well as a selection of spirituals. The Quartette, Descant, and Consort also will perform. These small ensembles specialize in a cappella vocal jazz and pop arrangements.
Local members of the choirs are senior Sarah Davis, junior Clarice Davidchik, and sophomore Libby Jennings, all of Sherman, plus senior Phillip Peterman and sophomore Hunter Sartor of Denison.

The groups are led by Dr. Wayne Crannell, who became director of choral/vocal music at Austin College in 1995 when he assumed the leadership of the A Cappella Choir. During his tenure, the Choir has developed from an ensemble comfortable with standard unaccompanied choral literature to an extremely versatile choir modeled after the vocal styles of the ensembles at schools such as St. Olaf, Luther College, and Westminster Choir College.

Austin College has a long tradition in choral music, beginning with serenading clubs and the glee club in the 1890s and early 1900s.The Austin College A Cappella Choir officially was formed in 1947 and has earned a reputation for music excellence and performance around the world. The choir has performed in international tours throughout Europe and Australia.

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.

Find more Austin College concerts and Special Events in the Lake Texoma area, visit www.texomaconnect.com.

Austin College Fall Chamber Music and Jazz Concert Austin

Austin College | Sherman, Texas

The Austin College Music Department will present the annual

Fall Chamber Music and Jazz Concert on November 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Wynne Chapel on the Austin College campus. Under the direction of Austin College Mosher Professor of Music Dr. Ricky Duhaime, the concert is free and open to the public.

This fall’s concert will consist of a first half devoted to the Austin College Chamber Orchestra performing two pieces for strings: An Overture by the German-American composer Jean Berger and a Viola Concerto in G Major by the German Baroque composer Geog Phillip Telemann. Featured soloist in the second work will be Austin College senior music major Rizwan Jagani. The second half of the concert will consist of a variety of big band jazz in traditional and contemporary styles, from swing to Latin to rock, as performed by the Greater Texoma Jazz Ensemble.

The Chamber Orchestra is comprised of Austin College students representing a wide diversity of academic majors and professional interests, who will be joined by Austin College music faculty members Cathy Richardson and John McGinn, Austin College Admissions staff professional Amanda Kisselle, and community member Greg Hendrix.

The Greater Texoma Jazz Ensemble consists of students, faculty, and community members from across Northeastern Texas and Southeastern Oklahoma. Performance venues for the Jazz Ensemble this year have included Bells, Denison, and Durant, in addition to Austin College and Sherman High School. The November 17 concert will feature soloists Chris Dickson and Paul Onspaugh (saxophones), Jesse Speer (trombone), Eric Brentzel and John Vietta (trumpets), David Moore (guitar), Phil Pitts (piano), and Richard Burleson (drums).

For additional information, contact the Austin College Music Department at 903.813.2251.

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.

Be sure to check out other special events in the Texoma area on www.TexomaConnect.com.  If you love live music, the Entertainment Calendar is a great resource for finding dates, times and locations where local bands and nationally recognized recording artist are performing live.

Bob Livingston Returns to Harmony House Concert

Texas music legend, Bob Livingston will return to Harmony House

Concerts for a live performance on Sunday, July 20, 2014 from 4 - 6 pm.

A multi-talented musician/historian, Bob is a music ambassador for the U.S. State Department.  View a photo gallery of his days with Jerry Jeff Walker, his travel logs and more on his website www.BobLivingstonMusic.com.

Harmony House Concerts offers a live music venue in a natural setting, perfect for Bob's interconnected performance style.  Harmony House is located in a vintage reclaimed home which has been relocated to Wildscape Acres, which is 10 miles north of Bonham and 65 miles NE of the Dallas area.  It is an intimate, casual surrounding where artist and guest interact.  You can be certain that Bob will invite audience participation when he has you singing tunes from his days of playing in Michael Martin Murphy's Band.

There will be two 45-minute sets with a 30-minute intermission for grazing at the snack tables provided by hosts, Faye & Scott; for getting another cup of coffee, tea, or punch; for purchasing CDs; or just for relaxing on the deck. A basket will be placed on the breakfast room table for your optional $1 cash donation to help defray the expenses of the hosts

Suggested donations for reservations are $15 per person. Make reservations by calling 903/583-2661, indicating how many seats are needed and giving your contact information (preferably e-mail address). To prepay, make all checks to Bob Livingston and mail to Faye Wedell; P.O. Box 812; Bonham, TX 75418 to be received by July 17, '14. Refunds for canceled prepaid reservations will be made that same date. Guests may also pay at the door. However, please respect the artist and the Harmony House Concert hosts by showing up or paying for any reservations made, unless canceled in a timely manner.

After the concert, there will be a Vegetable/Fruit Medley Potluck Dinner. Bob is one of those "vegetarians" who doesn't eat anything with a face!  Please let the hosts know if you will be staying for the dinner and what dish you will be providing so Faye and Scott can coordinate the dinner preparations.

After the Potluck for those who wish to stay and share some more music, there will be a Song Circle. If you play an instrument, toss it in the car...you might also toss in a lawn chair! In Song Circle, you can share your own original songs, sing those songs written by others, create a sing-along for those who don't play, but like to sing! It's like an "open mic" time!

Check out their website, www.WildscapeAcres.com, for more information.  For more events and live entertainment in the Lake Texoma and surrounding areas, visit www.texomaconnect.com.