Dr. Chukwuebuka Gabriel Ezeakacha is a Nigerian-American choral artist: a creative conductor, composer, vocalist, and educator. His performance experience spans over two decades across a wide range of styles and genres. Throughout his musicianship, he has conducted works by notable composers such as Josquin des Prez, Palestrina, William Byrd, Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, and Schubert, as well as contemporary composers such as Ola Gjeilo, Eric Whitacre, Z. Randall Stroope, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Daniel Elder, George Walker, Moses Hogan, and Andre J. Thomas.
Dr. Ezeakacha’s academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater Arts from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria, a Master of Science degree in Communication from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Oklahoma, and Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting (Choral), also from the University of Oklahoma. His interdisciplinary background has enabled him to function in various capacities, including choral clinician and adjudicator, music consultant, and concert facilitator, in Nigeria, West Africa, and internationally.
Dr. Ezeakacha studied choral conducting briefly with Dr. William Plummer at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and extensively with Dr. David Howard and Prof. Richard Zielinski at the University of Oklahoma. He also studied instrumental conducting with Dr. Shanti Simon and has taken voice lessons with Prof. Shawn Roy of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Dr. Joel Burcham of the University of Oklahoma, Norman. Dr. Ezeakacha’s growth as a conductor is further strengthened by his choral internship experience with Dr. Lee Cooke and conducting masterclasses with Prof. Jerry McCoy (choral) and Dr. Frank Ticheli (instrumental). His conducting style is characterized by precision, passion, and a profound understanding of the music, aiming to both edify and entertain the audience.
As a composer, Dr. Ezeakacha specializes in English and indigenous sacred and folk music, drawing inspiration from his native Igbo culture and other traditions of sub -Saharan Africa. Applying his cultural background to choral music education, his doctoral research focused on diasporic best practices for the performance of African choral music. Before his appointment at Langston University, Dr. Ezeakacha served as Choir Director at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Oklahoma City from August 2022 to December 2024. Dr. Ezeakacha is a freelance music instrumental synthesizer and producer, voice- over artist, and video editor and producer. He enjoys quality family time with his wife, Amaka, and his two sons, Odiraa and Sinobi.
Meichen Hou Hughbanks, M.M., is an accomplished pianist and educator currently serving as a full-time piano instructor and accompanist at Langston University. She has built a distinguished career as a soloist, collaborative pianist, and teacher, earning recognition both in China and the United States.
Born and raised in China, Meichen began playing the piano at the age of four and has been performing on stage since the age of six. Her impressive achievements include winning 1st prize at the 2015 Hong Kong International Piano Invitation Competition and the 2015 International Keyboard Odyssiad & Festival in the China Division. Additionally, she was the alternative winner of the 2016 Oklahoma Music Teachers Association (OMTA) Collegiate Piano Competition and received third prize in the 2016 Young Artist Performance Competition in Oklahoma.
Meichen is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Oklahoma Music Teachers Association (OMTA), and the Central Oklahoma Music Teachers Association (COMTA), where she has been a member since 2016. She also joined the Oklahoma City Pianist Club in 2023.
She holds a Bachelor of Management in Accounting from Zhengzhou University of Light Industry in China and a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Through her dynamic teaching and performance career, Meichen Hou Hughbanks continues to inspire and cultivate a love of music in both her students and audiences.
LANGSTON UNIVERSITY SPRING CHOIR CONCERT PROGRAM
WELCOME
Dr. Jonathon Allen
THE LANGSTON UNIVERSITY CONCERT CHOIR (L.U.C.C.)
O Bone Jesu Marc’Antonio Ingegneri (1535 – 1592)
In The Beginning Was The Word Vijay Singh (b.1966)
Jericho’s Wall Sam Ojukwu (1940 – 2024)
Oh, Freedom! Traditional Spiritual arr. Chukwuebuka G. Ezeakacha (b.1988)
Khamron Driver, conductor
Precious Lord, Take My Hand arr. Roy Ringwald (1910 – 1995)
Fi-Yer! (Fire!) from the Folk Operetta Fi-yer!
Jude Papouloute, tenor
I Will Give Thanks Unto Thee
Hall Johnson (1888 – 1970)
Gioachino Rossini (1792 – 1868)
Prof. Erica Thomas, soprano
INTERMISSION!!!
RECOGNITION OF GRADUATING SENIORS and REMARKS
Dr. Chukwuebuka G. Ezeakacha
THE LANGSTON UNIVERSITY MUSIC INDUSTRY CLUB (L.U-M.I.C)
The Journey Jeremiah Tyrece Williams
Bernstein Bears Amalia Davis
Breathe La’Marcus Platt
THE LANGSTON UNIVERSITY CONCERT CHOIR (L.U.C.C.)
Better Is One Day arr. Trey Mclaughlin (b.1984)
Khamron Driver, vocalist
Praise His Holy Name
Faithful Is Our God
Jude Papouloute, vocalist
Keith Hampton (b. 1957)
Jules Bartholomew (b.1975)
Witness Traditional Spiritual arr. Roger Emerson (b.1950)
Banuwa Liberian Folk Song
arr. Chukwuebuka G. Ezeakacha (b.1988)
Amalia Davis, Wood Block
Rebecca Gambor, Shaker
Jude Papouloute, Conga
APPRECIATION
Dr. Chukwuebuka G. Ezeakacha
Glory John Stephens, aka ‘John Legend’ (b.1978)
Lonnie Lynn, aka ‘Common’ (b.1972)
Che Smith, aka ‘Rhymefest’ (b.1977)
arr. Mark Brymer (b.1957)
Jude Papouloute, vocalist
Reese Brown, aka ‘Prophet’, Rap
Accompanied by: The Langston University Music Department Collective [MUDECO]
ANOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Jonathon Allen
Dear Langston (Alma Mater) by Samuel Levi Sadler
LU Alumni, LU Faculty and Stan, LU Concert Choir
THE L ANGSTON UNIVERSITY MUSIC DEPARTMENT COLLECTIVE
Flute
Layla Rodriguez
Clarinet
Amalia Davis
Janelle Ferguson
Tenor Sax
Maleah Buchanan
Arnaldo Lightburn
Jaylon Smith
Percussion (Set)
Kaleb McKenzie
French Horn
James Fowler
Xavier Jones
Trumpet
Solomon Williams
Mikahya Matthews
DeAno Flowers
Oboe
Chris Oglesby
Tuba
Kaleb Bilberry
Mateo Storr
Trombone
Valerie Reed
Colby Turner
Quintrel Tankxley
LANGSTON UNIVERSITY CONCERT CHOIR EXECUTIVE BOARD
Tyrece Williams (President), Jahree Sadler ( Vice President), Amalia Davis (Social Media/PR)
Brooklyn Noiel ( Wardrobe I), Quency White ( Wardrobe II), Chris Macklin (Chaplain)
Khamron Driver (Student Conductor), Tayren James (Student Accompanist)
LANGSTON UNIVERSITY CONCERT CHOIR
NAMES CLASSIFICATION MAJOR
Sopranos
Alanna Hill Junior
Chaya Jones Junior
HOMETOWN
Health, Physical Education & Recreation Fort Worth, TX
Agricultural Business Oklahoma City, OK
Jahree Sadler Senior Early Childhood Education Akron, OH
Eliesha Rhone Junior Psychology Dallas, TX
Makayla King Sophomore
Maleah Buchanan Senior
Daiana Chery Freshman
Kierha Lloyd Freshman
Vocal Music Education Nassau, BS
Vocal/Instrumental Music Education Seattle, WA
Agricultural Science Nassau, BS
Public Health Calumet City, IL
Nadia Mcgahee Junior Business Management Lawton, OK
Leah Tipton Freshman
Altos
Brooklyn Noiel Junior
Janelle Harbert Freshman
Corrections Oklahoma City, OK
Psychology | Corrections | Criminal Justice Oklahoma City, OK
Vocal Music Education Fort Worth, TX
Yalonee McCloud Senior Psychology Florissant, MO
Rebecca Gambor Junior
Gabrielle Caldwell Sophomore
Genisis Casey Sophomore
Broadcast Journalism Aurora, CO
Agricultural Business | Criminal Justice Chicago, IL
Instrumental Music Education Del City, OK
Jaelyn Dailey Senior English Education Wichita, KS
Amalia Davis Sophomore
Instrumental Music Education Oklahoma City, OK
Valerie Reed Sophomore Biology Dallas, TX
Hannah Kelley Freshman Corrections Ardmore, OK
Lexi Motes Freshman Child Development Marietta, OK
Tayren James Senior Finance Oklahoma City, OK
De’Janique Lambeth Junior Animal Science Oklahoma City, OK
Alaiza McCoy Sophomore Nursing Kansas City, KS
Mikahya Matthews Sophomore Instrumental Music Education Tulsa, OK
Brianna Alexander Junior Health, Physical Education & Recreation Chickasha, OK
Markayla Parrish Junior Business Management Denver, CO
Tenors
La’Marcus Platt Freshman
Vocal Music Education Houston, TX
Quency White Senior Health Administration Fort Worth, TX
Tyrece Williams Senior Corrections Tallahassee, FL
Jude Papouloute Senior
Kaleb Bilberry Senior
Mario Absolue Freshman
Jamal Kemp Freshman
Joel Gibbs Freshman
Vocal Music Education Nassau, BS
Vocal/Instrumental Music Education Kansas City, KS
Instrumental Music Education Nassau, BS
Instrumental Music Education Nassau, BS
Vocal/Instrumental Music Education Houston, TX
De’Ano Flowers Freshman Instrumental Music Education Nassau, BS
