Five OC students selected to perform with the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Honor Band

Performance was held at the Oklahoma Music Educators Association on Jan. 17.

February 6, 2020 - Five students from Oklahoma Christian University were selected to perform in the annual Oklahoma Intercollegiate Honor Band at the Oklahoma Music Educators Association in January. Kenzie Murphy, Spencer Banister, Kelsey Ritchie, Julie Pekrul and Ashely Cannon were all chosen for this special opportunity. 

The band is composed of 100 students from across the state. Forms are sent to Oklahoma university band directors to nominate students for this exclusive band. Those chosen to perform in the OMEA honor band were selected based on character, musical skills and demonstrated leadership. The students practiced for nearly nine hours before performing.

Students audition at the conference for the position of first chair for each instrument. Kenzie Murphy and Spencer Banister were named first chair for bass clarinet and trombone, respectively. Kelsey Ritchie performed for flute, Julie Pekrul for clarinet and Ashley Cannon for tenor saxophone. 

Jack Stamp, a nationally respected conductor who has written numerous original compositions for symphonic bands, led the OMEA honor band. The band practiced for nine hours before performing in Tulsa on Jan. 17. The band performed four pieces: “All or Nothing” by Molly Joyce, “Occident Et Orient” by Camille Saint-Saens and edited by Timothy Reynish, “Reflections on Weston” by Jack Stamp and “Homage to Landini” composed by Ron Nelson. 

The concert was the first to debut “Reflections on Weston” in the U.S., and “All or Nothing” has only been performed once before in the U.S. It is a great honor for the intercollegiate band to play “Reflections on Weston” as it is not often that honor groups play the premiere of a song. Because there are no recordings of the song, the band’s performance reflected the expertise of the musicians. 

Cannon, a senior, enjoyed taking part in the special opportunity. 

“It was fun to network with musicians from around the state and to see old friends from high school,” Cannon said.