Ouachita Baptist University will host the 15th annual Mary Shambarger Competition for Singers on Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. in the W. Francis McBeth Recital Hall of Mabee Fine Arts Center.
The competition is named in honor of Mary Shambarger, professor emerita of music at Ouachita who served as a faculty member for 32 years. Shambarger formed the women’s choral group the Ouachitones, which later was restructured as Ouachita Sounds, a group including men and women. When she retired in 1998, Shambarger was the Lena Goodwin Trimble Professor of Music and had served as a voice instructor and directed multiple choral groups throughout the years.
The competition features rotating repertoires, including: musical theatre selections, which will be this year’s category; arias from opera and oratorio, scheduled for 2014; and art songs, in 2015. Only Ouachita voice principals who are in their fourth semester of study or beyond are eligible to enter the competition.
“We are expecting numerous student entries because everyone enjoys participating in the musical theatre classification,” said Dr. Glenda Secrest, professor of music. “If you have never attended the competition, this would be a great one to experience. It will be an entertaining afternoon and you will be amazed by the level of competition.”
A cash prize of $500 will be awarded to the first place winner. Other cash awards include: second place, $300; third place, $200; fourth place, $100; and honorable mention, $50.
Judges for this year’s competition include: Jessica Bubbus, a 2006 Ouachita alumna and former winner of the Shambarger Competition; Joshua Shaw, a 2001 Ouachita alumnus and featured guest artist and master teacher for the upcoming Arkansas National Association of Teachers of Singing Conference and Auditions; and Dr. Charles Wright, professor emeritus of music and former dean of Ouachita’s School of Fine Arts.
Faculty accompanists include: John Briggs, adjunct voice instructor and staff accompanist; Terri Lucas, staff accompanist; Louis Menendez, principal coach accompanist and artist-in-residence; Susan Monroe, staff accompanist; and Phyllis Walker, coordinator of staff accompanists.
For more information, please contact Dr. Jon Secrest at secrestj@obu.edu or (870) 245-5134.
