WT Orchestra to Open Season with Patriotic Celebration

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

CANYON, Texas — The West Texas A&M University Symphony Orchestra will continue the country’s semiquincentennial celebrations with its first concert of the 2026-2027 academic year.

“Happy Birthday, America! The USA Turns 250” is set for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24 in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall.

Admission is free.

The concert will feature a new work saluting the U.S. Army as well as two iconic works by a pair of beloved American composers.

“We’re delighted to open our season with a concert celebrating the best of American life and culture,” said Dr. Mark Bartley, WT’s Lilith Brainard Professor of Music and director of orchestral activities in the School of Music in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities.

Dr. Choong-ha Nam, professor of piano, will be the featured soloist in George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” to be conducted by Keila Silva, a graduate student in music from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

“Gershwin described ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ as a musical kaleidoscope of America—representing a bustling melting pot, metropolitan energy, and the spirit of the Jazz Age,” Bartley said. “Dr. Nam’s technical prowess at the keyboard, along with her thoughtful preparation, will yield a stirring musical performance that lifts the standard for the whole orchestra.”

The orchestra also will perform Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring,” originally a ballet for Martha Graham that Copland adapted into an orchestral piece. It famously incorporates the Shaker tune “Simple Gifts.”

The concert also will feature Noah Taylor’s “Fanfare 250,” “a dynamic and celebratory work for orchestra dedicated to the men and women of the U.S. Army in recognition of 250 years of steadfast service,” Bartley said.

Taylor has served as staff arranger and composer for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point since 2015.

For information, call 806-651-2840 or visit wtamu.edu/music.

About West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University is a Regional Research University 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 about 9,000 and offers multiple options for students to graduate and succeed: 65 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 41 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and three 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.

1st Violin

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

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

Juan Mora, a freshman music performance major from Paracito, Costa Rica

Andrea Pereira, a freshman music performance major from Zapote, Costa Rica

Ana María Franco, a graduate student in music performance from Bogotá, Colombia

Bailey Haney, a senior music industry major from Amarillo

2nd Violin  

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

Juciane Barbosa, a graduate student in music performance from Sao Jose, Brazil

Andrew Lee, a freshman music composition major from Amarillo

Tesslyn Hazell, a junior music industry major from Amarillo

Jazzikiah Young, a freshman music education major from Lubbock

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

Viola

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

Emily Fulton, a sophomore music education major from Midland

MJ Garcia, a sophomore music education major from Amarillo

Victoria Miranda, a freshman music major from Odessa

Robert Hansen, faculty

Cello 

Anna Bartley, a graduate student in music performance from Amarillo

Eduardo Esparza, a senior music performance major from Amarillo

John Hajje, a senior music composition major from Amarillo

Luke Wright, a freshman music technology major from Amarillo

Double Bass 

Ezekiel Luera, a junior music education major from Fort Worth

Benjamin Brooks, a freshman music education from Trophy Club

Seth Hardin, a freshman music education major from Kilgore

Hayelan Birkenfeld, a sophomore music education major from Amarillo

Piccolo

Angelina Coyle, a sophomore music education major from Seoul, South Korea

Flute 

Daniel Cera, a junior music industry major from Amarillo

Riley Spalding, a senior music performance major from Amarillo

Oboe

Benjamin Barker, a freshman music education major from Dumas

Jordan Gabreleski, a freshman music performance major from New Braunfels

Clarinet

Jacob Valencia, a senior music education major from El Paso

Diego Campos, a sophomore music performance major from Odessa

Bass Clarinet

Adrian Galvan, a junior music education major from Amarillo

Bassoon     

Brynlee Miller, a junior music performance major from Canyon

Michael Johnson, faculty

Alto Saxophone

Ethan Murray, a freshman music education and performance major from Flower Mound

Adrian Perez, a junior music education major from Laredo

Tenor Saxophone

Trace Freeman, a junior music education major from Crosbyton

Horn

Anika McNeely, a junior music education major from Hereford

Ethan Barker, a junior music education major from Big Spring

Christopher Santiago, a graduate student in music performance from Odessa

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

David Azea Murillo, a sophomore music education major from Perryton

Trumpet    

Josiah Medina, a freshman music education major from Fort Worth

Elijah Keast, a junior music education major from Odessa

Faustino Lara, a graduate student in music performance from Palestine

Tenor Trombone

Christofer Gaspar, a junior music education major from Amarillo

Favio Marquez, a sophomore music performance major from Rosenberg

Bass Trombone     

Jordan Medina, a sophomore music performance major from Fort Worth

Tuba

Brady Neese, a junior music performance major from Amarillo

Percussion

Jacob Tarlton, a freshman music education major from Midland

Zach Barner, a sophomore music education major from Amarillo

Jacob Ortiz, a sophomore music education major from Canyon

Chloe Phillips, a junior music education major from Haslet

Elian Aguilera, a sophomore music education major from Canyon

Jeremiah Romo, a sophomore music technology major from Amarillo

Harp

Kara Poff, a sophomore music therapy major from Lubbock

Piano 

Piper Fowler, a graduate student in music from Amarillo

—WT—