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For more information, call (405) 425-5530 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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The Oklahoma Christian University alumna's audition aired on American Idol's January 31 broadcast. It featured both Halie (Swan) and her "dog" Oscar, who unfortunately didn't get a thumbs up from American Idol's resident "dawg," Randy Jackson, or fellow judges Mariah Carey, Keith Urban or Nicki Minaj.

Halie, a 2008 OC graduate, hails from Vernon, Texas. Thanks to "HumanSlinky" for capturing Halie's full American Idol segment ...

Here are more photos from Halie Hilburn's American Idol debut:

Halie and Oscar meet Ryan Seacrest.

Oscar cuts in on Halie's audition.

Halie and Oscar try to win over the judges.

The judges critique Halie and Oscar's "duet."

The moment of truth - Halie's going to Hollywood!

Halie shows off her golden ticket.

Ryan Seacrest decides it's time to break up the act. "Oscar" is getting left behind.

Halie talks about her big break.

This year’s Cabaret theme is “Hooray for Love: Highlights from the Great American Songbook.” Fourteen pieces written by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, Duke Ellington, Harold Arlen and Burt Bacharach will be performed. Classics include “The Man I Love,” “I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good),” and “If I Only Had A Brain.” 

The Cabaret will begin at 6 p.m. each night with its signature candlelight dinner in the McIntosh Conservatory in OC’s Garvey Center. The performance will begin at 7 p.m. in the adjacent Adams Recital Hall.

The dinner menu features a tossed green salad, Chicken Cordon Bleu with a rice pilaf and grilled vegetable mélange. Triple chocolate cake and strawberry topped cheesecake will be served for dessert. 

This is the first Cabaret since longtime Chorale director Dr. Ken Adams retired in 2012. The Adams Recital Hall is named for him and his wife Lindy in honor of their contributions to OC’s Music Department over the past 40 years.

Chad Anderson will direct this year’s Cabaret alongside Eric Grigg, music director and pianist, with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s Larry Moore on bass. Anderson is a 1998 OC graduate and has directed nearly a dozen Homecoming musicals and Valentine Cabarets at his alma mater.

The Cabaret cast includes OC students Kirby Allen, Kalee Floyd, Hannah Faye Foster, Ryan Gonzales, Alyssa Jackson, Jabbarri Jones, Reece Kingcade, Stephanie Loyd, Rebecca Moran, Sarah Risley, Sean Steele, Lane Wheeler, Lauren Wheeler, Brian Wilcox, Moriah Willing and Tommy Winberry.

Tickets are $7 for the show and $20 for the dinner and the show. To purchase tickets or request more information, call (405) 425-5530 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

This year’s event will be on Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. in Hardeman Auditorium, located in the Garvey Center on the OC campus. Admission is free.

A wide variety of holiday selections will be performed by more than 200 students and faculty of OC’s Department of Music.

The program will begin with the University Chorale and Orchestra performing the traditional processional, “Personent Hodie,” followed by a set of Christmas carols and the second “Dixit Dominus” of Claudio Monteverdi.

Complimentary hot cocoa and cider will be served during intermission in the McIntosh Conservatory, with seasonal music provided by the Chamber Orchestra.

Following intermission and refreshments, the program will continue with a mix of favorite Christmas selections performed by the OC Chamber Singers, Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Chamber Orchestra.

These selections will include yuletide favorites such as “Silent Night,” “Joy to the World,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Jingle Bells” and “White Christmas.”

For more information, call (405) 425-5530.

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A jazz recital at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13 in the Adams Recital Hall will feature Monaco, guitarist Mitch Bell, drummer Willie Peterson and saxophonist Dr. Heath Jones.

Jones, a professor of music at Oklahoma Christian, has played saxophone with the Temptations, the Four Tops, Frankie Avalon, Jim Neighbors, Leslie Gore, and the Oklahoma City Philharmonic.

The jazz quartet will perform works by Monaco, Pat Martino and Duke Pearson, as well as a commissioned piece by Steve Million.

Monaco also will appear with Oklahoma Christian’s Jazz Ensemble at the Fall Instrumental Concert on Thursday, Nov. 15. The free concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in Hardeman Auditorium.

The Jazz Ensemble set will feature works by Louis Bellson, Duke Ellington, Les Hooper, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, including include Mike Tomaro’s setting of the Beatles’ “Blackbird.”

OC’s Symphonic Band will perform Gustav Holst’s Second Suite in F, Nelhybel’s Trittico, and Ticheli’s setting of Amazing Grace. 

The Chamber Orchestra will play J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto, Edvard Grieg’s Holberg Suite, and Gustav Holtz’s Chaconne.

For more information about both free events and the OC Department of Music, call (405) 425-5530.

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The concert will feature works by the great Renaissance composers, Thomas Weelkes, and Giovanni Palestrina, followed by selections from the rich, Russian music heritage.

The Chorale will close the event with two inspiring spirituals from the great American choral literature.

Admission is free.

The special ceremonies were part of OC’s annual Homecoming weekend. The honorees were:

College of Arts and Sciences

Scott Filleman (05) - Music
Amanda Gauthier (11) - Nursing
Jennifer Hill (94) - Psychology and Family Studies
Russell Hill (93) - History and Political Science
Lisa Landrum (89) - Biological Sciences
Dana McMichael (83) - Language and Literature
Brian Simmons (87) - Communication
Roy Stevens (79) - Chemistry and Physics
Megan Wilkes (09) - Art and Design

College of Biblical Studies

Chris Stinnett (87) - Alumnus of the Year
Jeremie Beller (00) - Preaching/Ministry
David Duncan (88) - Missions
Josh Yaeger (04) - Youth Ministry 

College of Professional Studies

Jeff Dimick (83) - Mathematical, Computer, and Information Science
Jeremy Edwards (97) - Business Administration
Ben Knowles (00) - Mechanical Engineering
Tessa Tefertiller (95) - Teacher Education
Mitch Warren (05) - Electrical and Computer Engineering

Powell's performance and the world premiere of a fanfare by Oklahoma composer Callen Clarke highlight the opening concert of the orchestra's 2012-13 season, to be held in OC's Hardeman Auditorium.

Since her year as Miss America in 1981, Powell has performed in theatres, opera houses and concert halls all over the world. She also hosted "Home Matters," which ran for 12 seasons on the Discovery Channel.

New York audiences have seen the Oklahoma native as Alcamene in "Olympus On My Mind" and as Johanna in Harold Prince’s production of "Sweeney Todd" at the New York City Opera. She made her operatic debut as Adele in "Die Fledermaus" with the Seattle Opera and returned the following season as Micaela in "Carmen."

In addition to sharing the stage with Powell, the orchestra will perform additional selections at the Oct. 16 concert, including Howard Hanson's Second Symphony (the Romantic), Don Gillis' Short Overture to an Unwritten Opera, and Callen Clarke's Spark.

The OCO commissioned Clarke to write Spark to kick off the orchestra's 29th season. He said "all the teachers in the state of Oklahoma" inspired this piece. 

Tickets cost $10 at the door and $8 if purchased in advance online at www.okorchestra.org. Children under 13 will be admitted free of charge. OC students, faculty, and staff are admitted free of charge with their OC ID.

For more information, call OC's Department of Music at (405) 425-5530 or go to www.okorchestra.org.

The OCO is the "orchestra-in-residence" at Oklahoma Christian University. Several OC students, alumni, and faculty perform in the orchestra, which is conducted by OC professor of music Dr. John Fletcher.

Support for this performance has been provided, in part, by the Oklahoma Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

He took a band that began with no budget and just a few working instruments in 2007 and built it into a program with more than 300 student musicians from fourth through 12th grade.

That would be a success story anywhere. But almost all of Santa Fe South’s students come from impoverished families that qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

They don’t have much. But they have the opportunity to make music, thanks to Scott and a caring community.

“I couldn’t ask for a better administration. They’ve found a solution for everything we’ve wanted and needed. Although this school may be poor financially, it’s rich in the way it invests in students and shows compassion,” Scott said. “The kids love what they do and that keeps me going. It feels good to hear them say things like, ‘Your class is why I came to school today.’”

Some of those students, about 20 at this point, don’t have instruments to play right now. The band’s biggest needs are lower woodwinds (instruments like bassoons and tenor/baritone saxophones) and lower brass instruments (trombones, baritones, tubas). They also need financial assistance for repairs because many of the donated instruments need to be fixed before they can be used.

Media coverage has been a big help. Check out a recent print story by the Oklahoman and a TV feature from KFOR.

If you’d like to help, contact Scott at sfilleman@santafesouth.org or call the school at (405) 631-6100.

Fighting poverty is a noble and often challenging mission. Sizable accomplishments require time, dedication and a good strategy.

David Bowden knows this firsthand. The vice president of local nonprofit Give a Goat recently returned from his second trip to the Philippines, where he and his wife, Meagan, connected with those who need their help the most.

“I have been working with Give a Goat for over two years,” Bowden said. “Unlike my first trip, when I only visited for two weeks, this trip lasted three months. We decided we needed to have an extended presence in the field in order to build healthy relationships, gather reliable information, and connect more deeply with those we were helping.”

Former Oklahoma Christian University student Peter Cariaga founded the Give a Goat nonprofit on the OC campus in 2006 to teach his fellow countrymen how to raise goats as a sustainable way to provide for their families.

Goats are given to the families, providing milk that can be used for food or sold. Goat milk is especially suited for a lactose intolerant population like the Philippines. It can be turned into cheese, yogurt or butter. It also can be used for making soap, lotion and other products.

Goat manure is a natural fertilizer that can help farmers raise healthier crops. When goats are no longer productive, they can be sold as meat. Goats reproduce often and families have the opportunity to raise their own herd.

The Philippines is an archipelago comprising of 7,100 islands and has a population of about 94 million. According to the latest U.N. statistics, almost half of the population lives on less than two dollars a day and the poverty rate is projected to grow.

“My wife and I lived on Lapu-Lapu. We resided in a small rent house in what is known as the ‘firework village.’ This village is filled with nearly 30,000 people who supply the Philippines with their stocks of fireworks by making every piece from scratch,” Bowden said. “These hardworking people spend every second of daylight mixing black powder, rolling shells, drying wicks, stuffing mortars, and rolling explosives for around $1 to $2 a day. They live in a perpetual cycle of poverty. Loan sharks give them money to buy their supplies at extremely high interest rates. The workers buy their supplies and work long hours for pennies on the dollar.”

The workers are left with barely enough to provide for their families. Many families pull their children out of elementary school to help roll fireworks before they even finish the first grade. “My wife and I knew that we had to do something about this problem, and that giving goats was a wonderful solution,” Bowden said.

One worker’s story especially struck Bowden and his wife.

“We met a wonderful woman named Mary-Ann. She was a hardworking mother of two and was struggling to get by. In between her work with the firecrackers she was doing manicures and pedicures for about 50 cents. Even with this extra income she was having a hard time providing for her family.”

After about a month of conversations and training, the Bowdens bought the supplies and built Mary-Ann a goat house.

“In about three days it was finished. We went and purchased two pregnant females and one male and gave them to Mary-Ann,” he recalls. “We told her that she did not have to be poor, and she did not have to be hungry. She now has six goats, can afford more food and clothing for her family, and is on track to send her children to school all the way through college.”

The nonprofit distributes goats only to people who are willing to learn how to take care of them. The goats are considered borrowed and families are not allowed to kill them for food or sell them for money. They can keep the offspring and potentially double their income. So far, Give a Goat has distributed more than 1,500 goats and has helped 137 families. The target for the next five years is 10,000 goats, and in 10 years the nonprofit hopes to reach the 100,000 mark.

“It’s amazing the difference I’ve seen even in the one year between my visits,” Bowden said. “Give a Goat has boomed to nearly every major island in the Philippines, and each hub is more amazing than the last. Time after time, we heard story after story about how goats are changing people’s lives for the better. We saw sons providing medicine for their parents, parents providing education for their children, and families providing resources for their communities, all through the gift of a free pregnant goat.”

“These stories are compelling, but there are always more families to help than what we have funds available,” Give a Goat president Bryan Clifton said.

He explained one goat costs about $50 and one of the biggest challenges for the organization is saying no to families because of lack of resources. Give a Goat partners with several local organizations, such as churches, clubs and schools and there are plenty of volunteering opportunities for those who want to get involved.

To learn more about Give a Goat or to volunteer, go to www.giveagoatnow.com.

In a competition traditionally dominated by larger schools, senior Mason Drumm snatched the title of Oklahoma’s Outstanding University Jazz Musician of the Year.

Drumm is a Bible major at Oklahoma Christian University and has not only the gift of ministry, but also the gift of music. When asked about his motivations, Drumm speaks of a love for God partnered with a love for people that keeps him wanting to teach wherever he plays. Although he has played in many venues, including with a live band, Drumms’ primary passion is clear.

“Even though I’m a musician, I feel like God is calling me to focus my attention more on ministry,” Drumm said. “What’s great about ministry is that it can be done anywhere and everywhere, and it should.”

Drumm is devoted to the cause of Christ.

“As I’m out on a gig I’m also building relationships,” Drumm said. “And my hope is that through drumming I might be able to talk with people about Jesus. This is especially needed in the music culture that I’m a part of. Plus, I love drumming for God.”

Drumm has been playing the drums since he was 11 years old and has a special appreciation for jazz music.

“The history of [jazz]—the artists, the culture and, of course, the music itself—I think I liked it because it offered me something different,” Drumm said. “Most drummers, especially young ones, think drumming is all about playing loud and fast. Jazz sort of flips that idea on its head, and drumming becomes part of making music instead of trying to be impressive.”

Drumm was “discovered” at his middle school by Oklahoma Christian Professor of Music Heath Jones, who was also a clinician working with school bands.

“[Drumm] was a strong Christian when I met him,” Jones said. “[Drumm] said, ‘You work at a Christian university? … I always wanted to go to a Christian university.’ I said, ‘Well, look no further,’ and he came as soon as he was able to. This shows what kind of a person Mason is, a strong Christian and a great musician.”

The work ethic Drumm maintains toward ministry is the same kind of energy he brings to his music career. Consequently, Drumm won the title of college jazz musician of the year, an honor given by Oklahoma Music Educator’s Convention to the most qualified student musician in the state.

Every year Oklahoma educators meet at a music convention and select the student they believe to be the best for multiple age ranges. Drumm’s election as best university musician is not only a great honor for him, but is also a first in Oklahoma Christian history.

This is the first time an Oklahoma Christian student has won the statewide award.

The area’s larger bands have historically dominated the title, but this year Drumm beat them all.

Usually Oklahoma Christian’s jazz band performs at the high school competition as an exhibition group, creating feedback for Drumm’s musicianship. 

Drumm wants to encourage people to follow their own musical dreams.

“Do it,” Drumm said. “Music is different. If you want to go play football or something that’s great—but in 30 years will you still be playing? Probably not. But with music, I know guys that are over 70 years old and they still play. It’s a special … experience that lasts a lifetime.”

Drumm recognizes where his abilities originated.

“My talents and the opportunities and experiences that have opened up to me have all been through the grace of God,” Drumm said.

For those contemplating their next step, etiher in music or in ministry, Drumm offered guidance.

“My best advice would be to stay humble and remember Proverbs 3:6, ‘In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight,’” Drumm said.

Drumm encourages those who are striving to become better in their ministry.

“Remember where you place your identity,” Drumm said. “Your value is based not on how good or bad you are at this or that. Your value comes from being loved by God. Your identity is found in Christ.”

By Monica Williams, courtesy of The Talon

The festivities will start at 6 p.m. each evening, with a catered candlelight dinner in the McIntosh Conservatory, located inside the Garvey Center on the OC campus, followed by the Cabaret performance at 7 p.m. in the adjacent Recital Hall.

The dinner menu will be a tossed green salad with dressing, followed by a hot London Broil steak, whole new potatoes with parsley butter, and grilled fresh vegetables, with chocolate and raspberry swirl cheesecake for dessert. Tea, hot coffee, and water will also be served.

This year’s Cabaret is titled “An Evening of Modern Musical Theatre,” and will feature songs from a variety of Broadway’s more recent musicals. Featured will be songs from shows such as “Wicked,” “Spamalot,” “The Addams Family,” “The Producers,” and “Legally Blonde.”

Performing will be cast members Madison Callaway, Hannah Faye Foster, Alyssa Jackson, Moriah Willing, Laura Vanderzee, Ryan Gonzales, Chris Jenkins, Reece Kingcade, Brian Wilcox and Brett Vanderzee.

The show is directed and choreographed by Barbara Berard, with music direction by OC graduate and OCU graduate student Rebekah Parker, who will also play piano for the performances.

Tickets are $19 for the dinner and show, or $7 for the show alone. For tickets, call the OC Music Department at 425-5530, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

Raymond Mobley, a 2008 family studies graduate, and Malcolm Himes, a student at OC, have joined the group and will begin touring later this month.

Mobley, a native of Midwest City, Okla., toured with Acappella in May and filled in for members Zac George and Anthony Lancaster at select events in California and Texas.

In 2007, he appeared on national television as one of the lead vocalists in Blake Shelton’s choir on NBC’s “Clash of the Choirs.” In 2008, he was a top-10 finalist in the Contemporary Music category of America’s Best New Talent competition.

He made his mark at Oklahoma Christian as a two-time Spring Sing host and as a member of Summer Singers and New Reign.

Himes also is a former member of New Reign, OC’s student acappella group. He also toured as a member of the Southwestern Christian College A Cappella Chorus before his transfer to OC.

A native of Houston, Texas, who was raised in Chattanooga, Tenn., he is a well-known worship leader at Christian conferences and congregations around the United States.

With the addition of Himes and Mobley, all of Acappella’s members are OC students or alumni. George studied Bible at Oklahoma Christian, Lancaster currently is a Bible major at OC, and Wes McKinzie is a 1998 radio/TV grad who now serves as OC’s director of editorial services.

Justin Elliott, Acappella’s road manager and sound engineer, is a computer engineering major at Oklahoma Christian. In total, 20 current or former OC students have served with the Acappella Company through the years.

Acappella’s next Oklahoma City-area concert will be in OC’s Hardeman Auditorium on Monday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 and will raise money for a local child who has a severe peanut allergy. Go to www.gp4sd.com/acappella for more info on the concert.

Acappella’s full concert schedule is available at www.facebook.com/acappella. The group is preparing for a series of special-event concerts in 2012 in celebration of Acappella Ministries’ 30th anniversary.

“We are honored to be ranked among the best universities in the West region,” said Mike O’Neal, president of Oklahoma Christian. “This is a reflection of the hard work of our dedicated faculty, staff and students.”

For this project, The Princeton Review asked students attending the schools to rate their own colleges on several issues—from the accessibility of their professors to quality of the campus food—and answer questions about themselves, their fellow students and their campus life.

“We’re pleased to recommend Oklahoma Christian to users of our site as one of the best schools to earn their degree,” said Robert Franek, Princeton Review’s publisher. “We chose it mainly for its excellent academic programs. From several hundred schools in each region, we winnowed our list based on institutional data we collected directly from the schools, our visits to schools over the years, and the opinions of our staff, plus college counselors and advisors whose recommendations we invite. 

The Princeton Review also takes into account what students at the schools reported about their campus experiences on an 80-question student survey for this project.  Only schools that permit the group to independently survey their students are eligible to be considered for the regional “Best” lists. 

The 121 colleges that The Princeton Review chose for its “Best in the West” list are located in 15 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Collectively, the 629 colleges named “regional best” constitute about 25 percent of the nation’s 2,500 four-year colleges.

Last year The Princeton Review also named Oklahoma Christian as one of the top 50 undergraduate gaming design programs in the nation. It was the only one in Oklahoma to make the list.

They’re in important professions. They’re doing things they love. But they don’t make the kind of money that makes having three college students easy (if there is such a thing).

The Floyds have had three kids make the short trip from Mesquite, Texas (a Dallas suburb) to Oklahoma Christian. All three were at OC together until Lindsey, the oldest, graduated this year with a degree in psychology. Kalee majors in business and Tyler majors in engineering.

“This is the only school they’ve ever wanted to go to,” Keith said. “It’s a great school. It’s worth it to find a way for them to come here. It really is.”

Lindsey and Kalee became familiar with Oklahoma Christian when the student performing groups New Reign and Summer Singers came to their summer camp. Lindsey visited campus after that … and instantly felt connected.

“I loved it here,” Lindsey said. “The faculty and students were outgoing and friendly, even to people they didn’t know. It was a pleasant atmosphere. Everyone was happy and nice.”

The warm feelings continued after Lindsey became a student. A lot of people she knew from Texas also chose OC. 

Kalee followed her older sister to Oklahoma Christian. The Floyds weren’t sure they could afford for her to attend. But the leap of faith paid off when Kalee made New Reign.

“I was really surprised when I made New Reign, and when I found out how much the scholarship was, I nearly cried. It was such a relief to know that more of my tuition would be covered,” Kalee said. “I truly feel like I am in the group for a reason, because I prayed so much that God would help me find a way to pay for my college. I thank God that He has blessed me to be able to do this, and that I can spread the word about Him in the process.”

OC’s focus on God, in the classroom and beyond, appealed to the Floyds. Keith attended Oklahoma Christian in the early 80s while Beverly went to a state school and never felt the connection to her professors that their children do. 

“Our kids went to a big high school where you see and hear everything. I wanted them to be in a Christian atmosphere so they wouldn’t have to deal with all the stuff they dealt with in high school,” Beverly said. “I love the size of the campus, and I love that the instructors go to the churches they attend. It’s a different world.”

And a world of opportunity. Lindsey also sang with New Reign, and earned other scholarships for her musical ability (she also sang with the Chorale and Chamber Singers) and her ACT score. Tyler was seventh in his high school class, and had many scholarships available to him as he began pursuing his engineering degree at Oklahoma Christian.

It’s all added up to make quality Christian education affordable for a family that wanted their kids to pursue their dreams.

“We are really grateful for OC,” Keith said. “We feel blessed.”

By Wes McKinzie

“Well, Mom always takes a few minutes to point out the first place she saw Dad, where they first talked, first kissed, and where he proposed. The proposal story is definitely my favorite,” said Lauren, a senior biology major from Topeka, Kansas.

Indeed, that proposal story is legendary to alumni, circa 1984. It was during Homecoming, and Heather was starring as Laurie in the musical “Oklahoma.” Carl took a line from Curly, pulled Heather outside the Hardeman stage before the curtain opened, and popped the question.

Heather’s real-life answer, of course, was less reluctant than Laurie’s “Why would I wanna marry you?”

Heather said “yes” and the rest is OC history still in the making. Lauren and her brother Lane are current OC students; LaVon just graduated from Oklahoma Christian as a biology major with a music minor. She also was a member of OC’s Honors Program.

“If I had 1,000 re-dos of where to go to college, I’d choose OC every time. I love it here,” Lauren said. “OC has a very high acceptance rate into med school, an excellent music program, and I love being on a Christian campus. It’s close to home and feels like a second home since my family has gone through here.”

Heather, a music teacher, and Carl, an attorney, have been very intentional about exposing their kids (and all of the other kids they know) to Oklahoma Christian through summer camps, visits and hosting OC groups at their home congregation. 

“I didn’t grow up in a Christian household so I didn’t have that Christian family to rely on other than at church. Then, when I came to OC, and all of a sudden I had two or three thousand Christian folks that became my family,” said Carl, who specializes in child support enforcement for Young Williams Support Services. “Some of my closest friends that I met and made here at OC, I’m still very close with and still feel like family, and their kids feel like family.”

Heather has encouraged her children to get involved and make friends because that’s what she did.

“I’ve finally realized how wise my parents really are,” LaVon said. “They have always encouraged me to do my homework first, but to also go have fun with people in all my free time. Your college friends will be some of your best friends for the rest of your life.”  

That’s true for Heather and her friend Laura Earp, who met their first week on campus about 30 years ago. They ended up becoming roommates, being unofficially adopted as another daughter in each other’s families, and were in each other’s weddings when Heather married Carl and Laura married Philip Autrey.

They have stayed in touch, and they visit each other’s homes in Topeka and in Arlington, Texas, where Laura and Philip live with their three kids, including Victoria, a current OC student. 

Heather was there for Laura when she was diagnosed with cancer two years ago. As Laura battled the aggressive cancer that had advanced to her bones, Heather sprang into action to tend to Laura’s spirit. She set up a Facebook page for updates and prayer requests.

“She can get action out of people, big time,” said Laura, who said she is very grateful for Heather’s energy and for the power of prayer.

Heather also gave Laura a gift. After asking Laura’s friends for their favorite scriptures, Heather painstakingly highlighted them in a Bible she gave her. 

“She did this for me. And every time I open that Bible, I see something new and who sent it to me. It is the most precious gift,” Laura said.

Laura recently received good news about her health. Her tumor markers are lower than they’ve been, and although she remains on chemo, she is very optimistic and grateful.

“So many people prayed for me. That’s what did it,” she said. “That’s why I’m here today.”

That’s what friends are for.

By Dawn Shelton

“Many public schools lost their music instruments in the tsunami, and they are asking for help collecting used instruments and funds,” said Fisher. “Music is an important part of life for many school-age children in Japan. Donations collected at this concert will be sent to help bring the music program back in those schools.”

When Oklahoma Christian’s music faculty heard about Miho’s idea, they reached out to her.

“We asked how we could help,” said Kathy Thompson, chair of the music department at Oklahoma Christian. “When she said she needed a performance space, we were glad to donate our recital hall.”

The concert will take place at 2:30 p.m. on May 22 in the Garvey Center Recital Hall. It will include nine numbers as well as an intermission. Additional performers include Miho’s husband, Greg, on piano; Leslie John Flanagan on baritone; Timothy Hsu on violin; and Angela Machnik-Jones, Rob Bradshaw and Meryl Nash, all on cello.

For those interested in helping that can’t attend the concert, Fisher said a Facebook group has been created, as well as a website, www.musicforjapanok.org. For more information, call 563-2411.

This is the second benefit concert for Japan hosted on the Oklahoma Christian campus. The first one was held April 16 and featured nine bands coming together to raise funds for relief efforts. Oklahoma Christian has a long history and tradition with Japan. For more than 35 years, OC has shared a strong sister-school relationship with Ibaraki Christian University. A number of Japanese students study each year at OC, while many OC students travel to Japan as part of the annual Pacific Rim Study Abroad program.

The U.S. premiere of this new, authoritative edition will be conducted by Ken Adams, professor of music at Oklahoma Christian, and directed by Vince Leseney, associate professor of musical theatre at the University of Oklahoma. The performance is fully-staged and costumed with a professional orchestra.

“We are incredibly honored to bring this comic opera to music lovers here in Oklahoma,” said Adams. “It’s a very funny and entertaining work. The cast has really enjoyed preparing for this production, and we’re confident the audience will have a lot of fun too.”

Written by Austrian composer Franz von Suppé in 1862, the opera involves a desperate father who can’t find suitable husbands for his 10 grown daughters. The opera takes an interesting turn when a single man arrives looking for a wife. Musical numbers include solos and duets in the musical styles of several European countries, military marching and a grand finale featuring 11 xylophonists.
John Longstaff, a professor of music at Leeds College of Music in England, prepared the orchestral and vocal performance materials for this new edition of “Ten Brides.” His search for von Suppé’s original orchestration began in 2009 and took him to the Cambridge University Library, the Library of Congress and ultimately to Bavaria where he discovered the manuscript in the archives of the Landesbibliothek in Coburg. From that source, Longstaff assembled new scores and parts for a modern performance. He also orchestrated two numbers by von Suppé that existed only in a vocal score published in the 1930s.

“We have worked so hard for this performance,” said student Morgan Edwards, a cast member. “We can’t wait for opening night when others can enjoy it as well.”

Additional cast members include Melissa Eastman, Emily Eldridge, Hannah Faye Foster, Leah Graefe, Kaylee Kain, Sarah Locke, Hayley Neff, Connor Weaver, Lauren Wheeler, Lavon Wheeler, Brian Wilcox and alumnus James Parker. 

“Ten Brides” will be performed in Hardeman Auditorium on the campus of Oklahoma Christian at 7:30 p.m. on April 17. Admission is free and seating is open. For more information call (405) 425-5530.

In addition, the Oklahoma Community Orchestra was selected as an honor performing group at the OMEA conference Thursday night. This was the first time in more than 20 years that a musical group affiliated with OC has been invited to perform. The OCO is comprised of current students, faculty, alumni and community members from Oklahoma City. OC’s music professor, Dr. John Fletcher, is the conductor.

“Our faculty, staff and students really rose to the occasion for these special events,” said Fletcher. “They eagerly went above and beyond what is simply required in pursuing opportunities to excel, and to promote our music program and the university.”

The OCO consists of musicians in the greater Oklahoma City area that seek to promote the performing arts and provide quality performances of symphonic literature at a nominal charge to the community. Approximately 70 musicians perform in the orchestra and most performances are at Oklahoma Christian University.

The OMEA is the state affiliate of MENC: The National Affiliation for Music Education, which is among the world’s largest arts education organizations. Through membership of more than 75,000 music teachers, and with 60,000 honor students and supporters, MENC serves millions of students nationwide.

Photo: OU music professor Michael Raiber, left, presents OC music professor John Fletcher with a certificate from the Oklahoma Music Educators Association. Raiber is a board member of the group that recognized the Oklahoma Community Orchestra as an honor performing group. Fletcher conducts the OCO, which also includes OC faculty, students and alumni.

The festivities will start at 6 p.m. each evening, with a catered candlelight dinner in the McIntosh Conservatory, located inside the Garvey Center on the OC campus, followed by the Cabaret performance at 7 p.m. in the adjacent Recital Hall. The dinner menu will be a tossed green salad with dressing, followed by a hot London Broil steak, whole new potatoes with parsley butter, and grilled fresh vegetables, with chocolate and raspberry swirl cheesecake for dessert. Tea, hot coffee and water will also be served.

This year’s Cabaret is titled “It’s Love: Bernstein on Broadway,” and will feature 20 songs from the musicals “West Side Story,” “On The Town,” “Candide,” and “Wonderful Town.” The show will trace the ups and downs of relationships through such Bernstein favorites as “Something’s Coming,” “Maria,” “New York, New York” and “A Little Bit In Love.”

The Cabaret cast members are Laura Bowles, Hannah Faye Foster, Rachel O’Laughlin, Courtney Tarpley, Moriah Willing, Sam Durrill, Reece Kingcade, Cody Summerville, Brett Vanderzee and Brian Wilcox.

The show is directed and choreographed by Barbara Berard, with music direction by OC staff accompanist Eric Grigg, who will also play piano for the performances.

Patrons may also visit the University Gallery to view the exhibit of works by political cartoonist, Paul Fell. Tickets are $18 for the dinner and show, or $7 for the show alone. For tickets, call the OC Music Department at 425-5530, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.