WT’s ‘Music of the Christmas Season’ Set for Dec. 7

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — The booming chords of a pipe organ and the angelic sounds of a youth choir will help usher in the holiday season at West Texas A&M University.

The WT Symphony Orchestra’s annual “Music of the Christmas Season” concert will feature guest performances by Muriel Cotman, a graduate student in music performance from Alpine, and Amarillo’s Bonham Middle School Women’s Choir.

Performances are set for 4 and 7 p.m. Dec. 7 in the Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall on WT’s Canyon campus.

Tickets for the perennially popular event are sold out, but the concert will be broadcast at 7 p.m. Dec. 23 and 9 p.m. Dec. 24 on Panhandle PBS. Following that, the concert can be viewed on the WT School of Music’s YouTube page.

“We’ve never invited a youth choir to participate on the ‘Music of the Christmas Season’ concerts before, but when the Bonham Middle School choral program was selected as the state honor choir by the Texas Music Educators Association—and featured on their own concert at the convention in San Antonio—we knew an exception should be made,” said Dr. Mark Bartley, WT’s Lilith Brainard Professor of Music and director of orchestral activities. “We are delighted to be reunited with directors Lizabeth Manfredi and Nakita Vickery, both WT alumni.”

The Bonham choir will join the WT Choirs to perform two movements from John Rutter’s “Mass of the Children” with the orchestra.

The WT Chorale and combined choirs also will be featured in the concert, performing “The Shepherd’s Triptych,” “Cantante Domino” by Karl Jenkins, “Gloria in Excelsis” from Wenzel Museller’s Mass in G Major, “Dawn” by Eric William Barnum, “He Is Born” by Barry Talley and “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

Cotman will be featured on Camille Saint-Saëns’s Symphony No. 3 and will accompany some audience-sung carols.

The concert also will feature “El Cant del Ocells (Song of the Birds)” by Pablo Casals and “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson.

“Music of the Christmas Season” is just one of the holiday events planned in coming days at WT and in Canyon.

The WT campus will be officially lit during the Festival of Lights celebration around the Buffalo Fountain on the Charles K. and Barbara Kerr Vaughan Pedestrian Mall in the heart of the campus.

Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum’s Christmas Open House will run 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 6, and Canyon Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas in Canyon events will kick off at noon Dec. 6, including the Parade of Lights at 6:30 p.m. around the downtown square, followed by the lighting of the Canyon Christmas tree.

Additionally, the WT Chamber Singers will offer a Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 in Northen Recital Hall. Admission is free.

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 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. 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—

Orchestra Roster

Violin 1

Henrique Chamiço, a freshman music performance major from Brazil

Juciane Barbosa, a graduate student in music performance from Brazil

Jonathan Frelix, a graduate student in music performance from Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Bailey Haney, a junior music industry major from Amarillo

Dr. Rossitza Goza, WT faculty

MacKenzie Nies, WT staff

Wendy Lambert, a senior biology major from Amarillo

Cassidy Demarais, WT alumna

Violin 2

Keila Silva da Cunha, a graduate student in music from Brazil

Tesslyn Hazell, a sophomore music industry major from Amarillo

Abigail Crandall, a freshman music therapy major from Enid, Oklahoma

Rosemary Orozco, a senior music education major from Amarillo

Evgeny Zvonnikov, WT faculty

Tanya Kolesnik, WT alumna

David Lindberg, community member

Viola

Patrick Williams, a senior music education major from Amarillo

J’Sean Berillo, a senior music performance major from Lubbock

Emily Fulton, a freshman music performance major from Midland

M.J. Garcia, a sophomore music education major from Amarillo

Dr. Robert Hansen, retired WT faculty

Cello

Anna Bartley, a graduate student in music performance from Amarillo

Eliza Pearson, a senior music performance major from Amarillo

Eduardo Esparza, a senior music performance major from Amarillo

John Hajje, a junior music composition major from Amarillo

Luke Worsham, a freshman music industry major from Amarillo

Katherine Cook, a senior music therapy major from Midland

Sarah Robinson, a junior music therapy major from Ropesville

Bass

Carson King, a senior music industry major from Rockdale

Ezekiel Luera, a freshman music education major from Fort Worth

Hayelan Birkenfeld, a freshman music education major from Amarillo

Flute

Daniel Cera, a sophomore music education major from Amarillo

Riley Spalding, a junior music performance major from Amarillo

Abigail Wade, a senior music performance and music education major from Missouri City

Oboe

Marissa Portillo, a senior music industry major from Lubbock

Abigail Hite, a graduate student in music performance from Kerrville

Clarinet

Mackenzie Stephenson, a senior music performance major from Melissa

Cade Woolf, a freshman music performance and music education major from Odessa

Bass clarinet

Maddlyn Evans, a graduate student in music performance from Amarillo

Bassoon

Brynlee Miller, a sophomore music performance major from Canyon

Zachary Brown, a graduate student in music performance from Odessa

Horn

Norrin Hodgson, a graduate student in music performance from Odessa

Taylor Bennington, a sophomore music education major from Decatur

Anika McNeely, a junior music education major from Hereford

Kinslea Blau, a senior music education major from Odessa

Kevin Olivas, a sophomore digital media and communication major from Amarillo

Trumpet

Faustino Lara, a graduate student in music performance from Palestine

Elijah Keast, a sophomore music education major from Odessa

Gallilea Martinez, a sophomore music performance major from Amarillo

Trombone

Christofer Gaspar, a senior music education major from Amarillo

Cayden Chazarreta, a sophomore music education major from Fort Worth

Bass trombone

Gavin Poole, a junior music performance major from Meridian

Tuba

Wyatt Hayes, a graduate student in music performance from McKinney

Percussion

Fisher Boone, a junior music education major from Monahans

Chloe Phillips, a sophomore music education major from Haslet

J.P. O’Brien, a senior music education major from Anna

Noah Lopez, a graduate student in music performance from Lubbock

Jacob Ortiz, a freshman music education major from Canyon

Harp

Kara Poff, a freshman music therapy major from Lubbock

Organ

Muriel Cotman, a graduate student in music performance from Alpine

Choir Roster

Collegiate Choir

Soprano

Mia Bulls—Freshman, Music Education, Dumas

Abigail Council—Freshman, Music Therapy, Hereford

Joli Goebel—Junior, Music Therapy, Amarillo

Vada Johnson—Freshman, Music Therapy, Paradise

Jessica Lopez—Sophomore, Music Therapy, Dumas

Myla Payne—Freshman, Animal Science Pre-Vet, San Antonio

Jewels Rodriguez—Senior, Musical Theater, El Paso

Lorelei Sicks—Senior, Music Therapy, Amarillo

Isla Tabor—Senior, Music Therapy, Paris

Alayah Wilson—Freshman, Music Education, Lubbock

Alto

Melissa Arevalo—Senior, Music Therapy, Devine

Lauren Combs—Sophomore, Music Therapy, Artesia, New Mexico

Ella Engel—Sophomore, Criminal Justice/Policing, Chandler, Arizona

Isabella Escobar—Junior, Studio Art, Borger

Lia Gonzalez—Junior, Music Therapy, Brenham

Elizabeth Harle—Freshman, Music Therapy, Newbery, Oregon

Jamily Hernandez—Junior, Music Therapy, Dumas

Jaden Luna—Sophomore, Music Education, Hereford

Charla Shields—Junior, Music Therapy, Anton

Tenor

Keegan Massingill—Sophomore, Music Technology, Lakewood, Colorado

Madison Jonas—Senior, Vocal Performance, Amarillo

Bass

Sergio Gonzalez—Senior, Music Therapy, Midland

Draik Hickok-- Graduate Student, Conducting, Alvin

Madison Jonas—Senior, Vocal Performance, Amarillo

Jackson Ketels—Freshman, Music Education, Amarillo

Chorale

Soprano I

Paulina Andrada-- Freshman, Music Technology, El Paso

Anya Brown—Freshman, Vocal Performance, Quinlan

Julia Douglas—Senior, Psychology, Wichita, Kansas

Sarah Estes—Senior, Vocal Performance, Turpin, Oklahoma

Monica Hernandez—Senior, Communications, Canyon

Emma Martin—Sophomore, Communication Disorders, Amarillo

Emilia Park-- Junior, Vocal Performance, Plano

Soprano II

Olivia Fowler-- Sophomore, Music Education, Portales, New Mexico

Edna Orona—Junior, Music Therapy, El Paso

Kailin Noble—Freshman, Psychology, Amarillo

Kimber Preece—Sophomore, Animal Science Pre-Vet, Converse

Zoe Sells—Senior, Music Education, Canyon

Aubrey Webb—Freshman, Music Education/Psychology, Canyon

Alto I

Aubrey Brown-- Sophomore, Music Education, Seminole

Cadence Brown—Freshman, Music Education/Vocal Performance, Canyon

Brooklynn King-- Senior, Vocal Performance, Pearland

Hannah Lannou—Senior, Communications, Canyon

Bella Reddick—Freshman, Music Therapy, Guymon, Oklahoma

Jennifer Srygley—Sophomore, Music Education, Amarillo

Alto II

Caroline Cooper—Junior, Music Technology, Midlothian

Greenlee Davis—Sophomore, Music Therapy, Panhandle

Kaysley Owen—Freshman, Music Education, Canyon

Raul Zuniga—Senior, Vocal Performance/Music Business, Amarillo

Tenor I

Aldo Hernandez—Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering, Phoenix

CJ Hernandez-- Freshman, Music Education, Amarillo

Seth Meason—Senior, Music Business, Amarillo

Gideon Talley—Senior, Music Industry, Canyon

Tenor II

Kaleb Evans—Sophomore, Music Therapy, Flower Mound

Malachi Falcon-- Freshman, Music Education, Plainview

Elijah Keast-- Sophomore, Music Education, Odessa

Carlos Williams-- Junior, Music Education, Amarillo

Bass I

Korbin Cole—Junior, Music Education, Pampa

Draik Hickok-- Graduate Student, Conducting, Alvin

Kyler Hilton—Senior, Vocal Performance, Amarillo

Elliott Lewis—Junior, Music Education, College Station

Benjamin Terry—Post Bac., Music Therapy, Lubbock

Grayson Wesbrooks—Sophomore, Music Education, Canyon

Bass II

Colton Hackett—Freshman, Music Education, Amarillo

Kelton Harbison—Senior, Music Education, Canyon

Hunter Long-- Freshman, Music Education/Vocal Performance, Amarillo

Mark Pinkerton—Senior, Mechanical Engineering, Canyon

Sebastian Remlinger—Sophomore, Music Therapy, Canyon