WT Symphony’s ‘Epic Evening’ Concert Set for March 7

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

CANYON, Texas — The West Texas A&M University Symphony Orchestra will go big for its next concert.

The symphony’s “Epic Evening” is set for 7:30 p.m. March 7 in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall on WT’s Canyon campus. Admission is free.

The concert will be anchored by a performance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 5.

“Embodying heroic struggle, Beethoven’s Fifth towers over all symphonic literature as the masterwork that best exemplifies genre,” said Dr. Mark Bartley, the Lilith Brainard Professor of Music and director of orchestral activities in the School of Music in WT’s Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities. “Scientists included the first movement on a collection of sounds and music from earth on the Voyager space probes. It remains one of the most powerful pieces ever composed—and it is best experienced live.”

Also featured will be Brandon Garcia, a senior music performance major from Amarillo, who was selected the winner of this year’s Mila Abbasova Concerto Competition, named for the WT instructor of music theory and piano.

Garcia will be featured on Ney Rosauro’s Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra, led by student conductor Keila Silva, a graduate music student from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

“If I’m being honest, I never expected to win the competition. There are some amazing musicians here at WT, so it is an honor to be selected as this year’s winner,” Garcia said. “The concerto is very rhythmically driven featuring Brazilian and jazz motifs that create very fun melodies. Simply put, I enjoy playing this piece because it is fun for everyone.”

The concert will open with “Roller Coaster” by Otto Schwarz, led by student conductor J.P. Galib, a graduate music student from Philadelphia.

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, which is now winding down, has raised more than $175 million.

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 Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: Brandon Garcia, a senior music performance major from Amarillo, will be a featured soloist in the West Texas A&M University Symphony Orchestra's "Epic Evening" concert March 7. Garcia is this year's winner of the Mila Abbasova Concerto Competition.

—WT—

WT Symphony Orchestra Roster

Flute 

Daniel Cera, a junior music education major from Amarillo

Alex Lam, a senior music performance major from Wylie

Abigail Wade, a senior music performance major from Missouri City

Oboe 

Joselyn Barron, a freshman music therapy major from Dumas

Marissa Portillo, a senior music industry major from Lubbock

Clarinet

Elias Medina, a senior music education major from Fort Worth

Mackenzie Stephenson, a senior music performance major from Melissa

Bassoon 

Zachary Brown, a graduate student in music performance from Odessa

Brynlee Miller, a sophomore music performance major from Canyon

Hayden Rizzo, a sophomore music performance major from Gunter

Horn 

Ethan Barker, a sophomore music education and composition major from Big Spring

Kinslea Blau, a senior music education major from Odessa

Colton Hackett, a freshman music education major from Amarillo

Norrin Hodgson, a graduate music student from Odessa

David Azea Murillo, a sophomore music education major from Perryton

Trumpet 

Micah Carter, a senior music education major from Missouri City

Faustino Lara, a graduate student in music performance from Palestine

Logan Lofink, a sophomore music education major from Panhandle

Trombone 

Christofer Gaspar, a sophomore music education major from Amarillo

Taylor Martindell, a senior music industry major from Amarillo

Bass Trombone 

Evan Perry, a senior music performance major from Amarillo

Tuba 

Brady Neese, a sophomore music performance major from Amarillo

Percussion 

Dr. Ryan Boehme, assistant professor of percussion

Aidan Caballero, a senior music performance major from Odessa

Nealey Fredman, a freshman music education major from Amarillo

Brandon Garcia, a senior music performance major from Amarillo

Chema Garcia, a graduate music student from Wellington

Noah Lopez, a graduate music performance student from Lubbock

Melinda Thomas, a senior music education major from Amarillo

Harp 

Kara Poff, a freshman music therapy major from Lubbock

Violin 

Juciane Barbosa, a graduate music performance student from Florianópolis, Brazil

Henrique Chamiço, a sophomore music performance major from Cerquilho, Brazil

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

Ana Franco, a graduate music performance student from Bogota, Colombia

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

Bailey Haney, a senior music industry major from Amarillo

Tesslyn Hazell, a sophomore music industry major from Amarillo

Wendy Lambert, a senior biology major from Amarillo

Keila Silva, a graduate music student from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Viola

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

Patrick Daly-Williams, a senior music education major from Amarillo

Emily Fulton, a sophomore music performance and education major from Midland

MJ Garcia, a freshman music education major from Amarillo

Dr. Robert Hansen, retired Regents professor of music

Cello 

Anna Bartley, a graduate music performance student from Amarillo

Katherine Cook, a senior music therapy major from Midland

John Hajje, a junior music composition major from Amarillo

Eduardo Esparza, a junior music performance major from Amarillo

Eliza Pearson, a senior music performance major from Amarillo

Sarah Robinson, a sophomore music therapy major from Lubbock

Luke Worsham, a freshman music industry major from Amarillo

Double Bass 

Hayelan Birkenfeld, a freshman music education major from Amarillo

Carson King, alumnus

Ezekiel Bo Luera, a sophomore music education major from Fort Worth

David Romo, alumnus