Opera Cowgirls to Perform on WT’s One Sessions Stage

Copy by Jade Ramos
Media Contact: Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University’s One Sessions concert series will continue its lineup Nov. 20 with a performance by The Opera Cowgirls, an alt-country band that fuses the elegance of grand opera with the spirit of classic country.

The performance will begin at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 in the AT&T HD Studio on WT’s Canyon campus.

Seating is free but limited. For tickets, email Randy Ray at rray@wtamu.edu. The concert will be recorded and made available to the public following the performance.

Formed in Brooklyn, New York, The Opera Cowgirls are known for performances that unite two worlds of music rarely seen on the same stage.

“I was asked to open for a folk-rock band at a bar in Brooklyn with my roommate, who played piano. He asked what the name of our group was and I happened to be wearing cowboy boots at the time, so I came up with the name ‘Opera Cowgirls’,” founder Caitlin McKechney said. “As we added more members who also played folk instruments, we took away the piano and used the folk instrumentation and our band name to influence our sound.”

McKechney said she hopes The Opera Cowgirls makes opera approachable and exciting for all audiences.

“Our hope is that people discover that they actually like opera and operatic singing,” McKechney said. “The stories and chord progressions behind pop, country songs and opera arias are not dissimilar. We hope that, in addition to enjoying our show, audiences consider going to an opera in the theater or explore listening to more classical music.”

Drawing inspiration from legends across both genres, The Opera Cowgirls blend technique with heartfelt performance, she said.

“We endeavor to sing with the vocal inspiration of the greats of both opera and country music, including Maria Callas and Dolly Parton, Luciano Pavarotti and Patsy Cline,” McKechney said. “Our arrangements are influenced by popular opera fusion groups like Il Divo, The Texas Tenors and, of course, The Three Tenors, as well as folk girl groups with great harmonies like The Chicks and The Wailin' Jennies.”

Members include McKechney, mezzo-soprano, guitar and banjolele; Dr. Sarah Beckham-Turner, soprano and cello; Mila Henry, vocals, accordion, melodica and percussion; and Isabella Lamadriz, soprano and bass guitar.

Beckham-Turner also serves as associate professor of voice in WT’s School of Music.

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 has raised more than $175 million and will continue through 2025.

About One Sessions

One Sessions is a live performance series that showcases emerging and established artists across diverse genres. Produced by Randy Ray and his Advanced Media Production class, the series combines the intimacy of live concerts with broadcast quality recording to highlight authentic, original musical expression.

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M University is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. A Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The University also is home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

—WT—