Musical Arts Series presents Texas Boys Choir in concert
Press Release Date: 2-17-2012
DURANT, Okla. – The highly acclaimed Texas Boys Choir will appear in concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, in Durant's First Baptist Church sanctuary as part of Southeastern Oklahoma State University's Musical Arts Series.
Artistic director Bryan Priddy will direct the 52-voice choir through a full and varied concert. Highlights include Bach's motet Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden, movements from Ramirez's Argentinean Folk Mass Mass Misa Criolla, and two settings of John McCrae's World War I poem In Flanders Fields.
On the lighter side, the evening will include world, folk and popular music traditions including a Texas-style Old West Medley, complete with Stetson hats; Star Wars, a parody using famous themes from Jurassic Park, Superman, E.T. and other John Williams movie scores, plus the fully choreographed a cappella version of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.
The Texas Boys Choir was founded in 1946 to provide any boy, regardless of socio-economic or ethnic background, a structured environment for the development of a world-class performing choir. The Choir has performed for Popes, Presidents of the United States and for Kings and Heads of State.
The group has made multiple appearances on national television and radio broadcasts, won numerous awards, including two Grammys, and produced more than 40 professional recordings with Columbia, Decca and other independent labels.
The Musical Arts Series is appreciative of the helpfulness and generosity of the First Baptist Church choir and director Ken Bartholomew for hosting the day's events, which include a workshop from 3:30-4:30 p.m., where the director of the Texas Boys Choir will discuss the boys' singing voices and rehearsal strategies for children's choirs.
There is no admission charge and the concert is open to the public. The Musical Arts Series gratefully acknowledges the following sponsors: Southeastern, the National Endowment for the Arts, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Oklahoma Arts Council, the Red River Arts Council, the Donna Massey Music Education Support Fund, Cherokee Telephone, and other individual donors and supporters.
The Red River Arts Council appreciates the First United Bank and acknowledges its generous support as a major sponsor.