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Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Program

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Northwestern State University School of Creative and Performing Arts Presents The NSU Cane River Singers

Shane Thomas, Director and The Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Douglas Bakenhus, Director In a Performance of:

George Frideric Handel’s

“Messiah” Parts 2 & 3

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

7:30pm | Magale Recital Hall

7:00pm - Pre-Concert Talk with Music Director, Douglas Bakenhus

The NSU Cane River Singers and The Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony present

George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” Parts 2 & 3

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 • 7:30pm • Magale Recital Hall

Program

Part II

Sinfonia (Brocke’s Passion)

Chorus: Behold the Lamb of God

Aria: He Was Despised

Kat Wilkinson, mezzo-soprano

Chorus: Sure He hath borne our griefs

Chorus: And with His stripes we are healed

Chorus: All we like sheep have gone astray

Recitative: All they that see Him, laugh Him to scorn

Dr.. Shane Thomas, tenor

Chorus: He trusted in God

Recitative: Thy rebuke hath broken His heart

Aria: Behold, and see if there be any sorrow

Dr.. Shane Thomas, tenor

Recitative: He was cut off out of the land of the living

Aria: But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell

Juan Campos, tenor

Aria: How beautiful are the feet

Malaina Aultman, soprano

Aria: Why do the nations so furiously rage together?

Dr.. Shane Thomas, tenor

Recitative: He that dwelleth in heaven

Aria: Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron

Phillip Voorhees, tenor

Chorus: Hallelujah

Part III

Aria: I know that my Redeemer liveth

Dr.. Terrie Sanders, soprano

Chorus: Since by man came death

Recitative: Behold, I tell you a mystery

Aria: The trumpet shall sound

Dr.. Robert Cardwell, baritone

Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb that was slain

Music Director

Dr. Douglas Bakenhus has been music director and conductor of the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony at Northwestern State University of Louisiana since 2004, where he also teaches bassoon, aural skills, and advanced conducting. In addition, Bakenhus also serves as music director of the Northeast Texas Symphony since 2003 and was the director of the Austin Philharmonic from 2001-2004. His music degrees are from the University of Texas at Austin (D.M.A., B.M.Ed), Texas A&M University-Commerce (M.M.), and has completed additional graduate courses in conducting and bassoon-performance at the University of Michigan. His conducting teachers include Larry Rachleff, Gustav Meier, Carl St. Clair, Gary W. Hill, and Elizabeth Green. In addition, Dr. Bakenhus studied conducting and baroque/ classical performance practice with Ivars Taurin at the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute (2010 and 2015). Throughout his teaching career, Dr. Bakenhus has remained active as a guest conductor and clinician with honor orchestras throughout Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas, Furthermore, he has made international conducting appearances with the Comfenalco School Orchestra in Cartegna, Colombia, the Sinfonietta Bratislava in Slovakia, and the San Pedro Sula City Chamber Orchestra in Honduras. He also performed abroad as a bassoonist with the NSU Faculty Woodwind Trio in Canada, Slovakia, England, and the Czech Republic. He remains active on the bassoon, playing in several local orchestras including the Shreveport Symphony, The Baroque Artist of Shreveport, Marshall Symphony, South Arkansas Symphony, and Texarkana Symphony. In addition, on his baroque and classical instruments, he regularly performs with period instrument ensembles including, the Austin Baroque Orchestra, Sonido Barroco in San Antonio, and has made appearances in Houston with Ars Lyrica, the Houston Bach Society, and the Mercury Baroque Ensemble.

Director of Choral Activities Tenor Soloist

Dr. Shane Thomas is the Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music in the Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts at Northwestern State University where he conducts the Chamber Choir, Cane River Singers, and the Northwestern Choral Artists. He teaches courses in vocal music education, choral methods, choral literature, and administrates the choral activities within the department. Thomas serves as the founder and artistic director of the Louisiana Vocal Arts Ensemble. He also serves as the Louisiana ACDA President-Elect and on the National Board for the National Collegiate Choral Organization.

website:

Soloists

Malaina

Aultman, soprano

Soprano Malaina Aultman holds her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Louisiana Christian University and Northwestern State University of Louisiana, respectively. She has enjoyed her time post graduation traveling for performances and adjunct voice teaching here at NSULA. Her operatic highlights include Adele in Die Fledermaus, Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte, Asteria in Gluck’s La Corona with the Orchestra Instabile Arezzo in Tuscany, and featured soloist with the AAMS Emerging Young Artist program at the Kennedy Center.

Juan Campos, tenor

Juan Campos, tenor, is a senior vocal performance major from Dallas, Texas. He is a member of the Northwestern State University Choirs, including Chamber Choir, Cane River Singers, Orpheus, and Northwestern Choral Artists. He has performed as a soloist for the Lake Charles Messiah Society, recently played the role of The Witch in the NSU Opera Ensemble’s production of Hansel and Gretel, and was a member of the 2022 SWACDA Mixed Honor Choir and the 2022 TMEA Mixed Choir. Juan has also performed with local professional ensembles such as the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, Rapides Symphony, and Prisma Vocal Ensemble.

Dr. Robert Cardwell, baritone

Dr. Robert Cardwell has performed with opera houses and music organizations throughout the United States, Italy, and Austria, including Sarasota Opera, Amarillo Opera, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, Amalfi Coast Music Festival, and the AIMS Symphony Orchestra. Some of his favorite performances include leading baritone roles in Don Giovanni, Il barbiere di Siviglia, I Pagliacci, La Traviata, and Pirates of Penzance. His research interests include the use of repertoire by composers from underrepresented communities to promote a more diverse and inclusive experience in the voice studio and the stage. Dr. Cardwell is the Director of Opera at Northwestern State University of Louisiana.

Dr. Terrie Sanders, soprano

Terrie S. Sanders, soprano, holds the rank of Professor of Music and is the Music Department Head for the School of Creative and Performing Arts at Northwestern State University. She has been on the faculty at NSU since 1992. Sanders teaches Voice and Vocal Pedagogy. She holds degrees from Emmanuel College(A.A.), Lee University (B.A.), Northwestern State University (M.M.), and the University of Southern Mississippi (Ed.D). She also holds a certification with the McClosky Institute of Voice and is a Master Teacher for that organization.

Soloists

Dr. Sanders is an active performer and lecturer. She has been a member of the Summer Seminar Faculty for the McClosky Institute of Voice, based in Boston, Massachusetts, since 2005. She has presented at State, Regional, and International Conferences, including the International Congress of Voice Teachers in Australia(2012) and Sweden(2017). She has taught the MIV Certification training course in the Philippines on two separate occasions. She regularly presents Master Classes and Lectures throughout the State and Region on alignment, relaxation, and breathing techniques for the singer.

Phillip Voorhees, tenor

Phillip Voorhees is an American tenor based in Natchitoches, Louisiana. He discovered his musical passions in school and church choirs in his hometown of Gulfport, Mississippi. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Sacred Music from Northwestern State University of Louisiana, where he participates in the Chamber Choir, Northwestern Choral Artists, and Opera Theatre. He has portrayed roles such as Frederick from Pirates of Penzance and St. Brioche from The Merry Widow. His experience goes beyond classical music, as he is also a songwriter, guitarist, and banjoist, blending American folk music traditions with modern sensibilities. He has won awards from the National Association for Teachers of Singing and is the secretary of NATS student chapter at NSULA.

Kat Wilkinson, mezzo soprano

Kat Wilkinson is a multi-genre vocalist known for her collaborative musicianship. In her career so far, she has performed works with the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, the Rapides Symphony Orchestra, the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra, and Northwestern State Opera Theatre. The performance of Handel’s Messiah is Kat’s second season as a guest artist with the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra.

Program Notes

George Frederick Handel (1685-1759) was one of the pillars of artistic life in Baroque London. His operas, court music, religious anthems, organ music, and oratorios have all become staples of the performing repertoire. Messiah, HWV 56 (1741) remains one of the enduring masterpieces of his career. Composed over a period of a few weeks (Handel often reused material from other works, which made the compositional process quicker), the oratorio is based on key moments of Jesus’s life: the Nativity, Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension.

In contrast with many of Handel’s oratorios, the singers in Messiah do not assume named dramatic roles. There is a three-part structure to the various scenes which take the forms of recitatives, arias, and choruses. There are two non-vocal numbers: the opening Sinfonia (in the style of a French Overture) and the Pifa (a “pastoral symphony” midway through Part I). Part I is generally referred to as the “Christmas Portion” and Part II and II as the “Easter Portion.”

When Charles Jennens presented Handel with his text for Messiah in 1741, Handel’s fortunes were so low that he was considering leaving England. Several years earlier, his opera company had collapsed, and he had suffered a stroke. In the years following his recovery, he had had great success with two English oratorios (Saul and L’Allegro), but his two Italian operas had been complete failures. With the fashion for Italian opera apparently over, Jennens hoped to persuade Handel to return to writing English oratorios. In the summer of 1741 came a fortuitous invitation to give a series of concerts in Dublin. With these concerts in mind, Handel set to work on the music for Messiah on August 22, completing the enormous work on September 14, a mere three weeks later. Jennens, never one to be overly modest, expressed disappointment that Handel had not spent a year setting his libretto. “[Handel] has made a fine Entertainment of it, tho’ not near so good as he might & ought to have done. I have with great difficulty made him correct some of the grossest faults in the composition, but he retain’d his Overture obstinately, in which there are some passages far unworthy of Handel, but much more unworthy of the Messiah.”

Messiah was premiered on April 13, 1742 in Dublin for the benefit of charity and drew so many people that ladies were requested not to wear hoops, in order to accommodate a larger audience. The series of concerts was a triumph. According to Faulkner’s Journal, “The best judges allowed it to be the most finished piece of Musick. Words are wanting to express the exquisite Delight it afforded to the admiring crowded Audience.” But Handel was wary about presenting his new oratorio in London. Several years earlier, Israel in Egypt had failed, partly due to a controversy over using a biblical text in the theater. When he did finally introduce Messiah there in 1743, it was not well received, partly indeed because of its biblical text, but also partly because there were too many choruses and no characters playing out a story. The work did not become widely accepted until Handel began presenting it in his annual charity performances for the Foundling Hospital in 1750.

Program Notes

The London premiere of Messiah in 1743 is a source of an urban myth: some say that King George II, so moved by the powerful music of the “Hallelujah Chorus,” stood in appreciation of the composer’s efforts (a move that obligated all to stand). As a result, during a live performance of the “Hallelujah Chorus,” the audience stands. A good story, but there has been no historical evidence to suggest that the King attended the London premiere or any subsequent performance of it that year. The first reference to the Messiah in the King’s letters dates from 1756, three years before Handel died.

Notes by Dr. John Dunn

Roster

Northwestern State University Cane River Singers

Dr. Shane Thomas, conductor

Micah Dugas, collaborative artist

Moly Sofia Amezquita

Jace Atchison

Maira Avellaneda#

Natalie Barker

Amy Bamburg*

J. Cole Becton

Lailah Belvin

Rayven Benton

William Boyd IV

Adrianna Bradford

Josue Bustillo Aguero

Erick Cabrera

Jesus Calderon Pena

Juan Campos

Daniel Carballo

Oscar Carballo Torres

Abbygail Casnave

Kyle Castilla

Alison Choate

Santiago Coavas Romero

Fisher Cooley

Camin Cooper

Riley Corden

Connor Cowan

Claudette Cruz#

Catherine Davis

Rose Delphin-Eugene*

Carlos Diaz del Valle

Leonardo Donado

John Dunn*

Karen Eugene*

Allison Flores

Douglas Flores#

Blake Fontenot

Ever Naun Galeas

Valerie Galliano

Veronia Galliano

Irene Gomez

Astrid Gomez Bravo

Valerie Gongre

Aliya Green

Felipe Guerrero Morales

Lyle Harriman

David Hall*

Perla Hipp

Harry Hoben

Xavier Hobson

Riley Hopper

Natalie Hyde

Darrick Jasmine

Kevin Juarez Lopez

Kelly Kingrey-Edwards*

Lhareen Lazo#

Holland LaGrone

Madison Lenser

José Luzuriaga Herrera

Angel Maradiaga

Steven Mendoza#

Isabella Michler

Haleigh Miller

Julian Miller

Michael Mumphrey

Sophia Naquin

Jacob Naqvi

Viktor Novosad*

Joshua Noyola

Juan Padilla

Clairie Parent

Melissa Patino Mejía#

Candace Paul

Valley Pinckley*

Max Pinkney

Gabriel Polo Gomez

Hope Powell

Jennifer Pulling*

Tim Pursell

Sara Puryear-Dunn*

Joel Ramos Alvarado

Rosalie Ray

Allyce Richards

Ryleigh Riggs

Roye’l Roberts

Santiago Rovira Ortiz

Santiago Sanchez

Colin Sebren

Jasmine Shadd

Kris Simon*

Susana Solis*

Tyla Stewart

Belen Tenesaca Bermeo

Arien Thibodeaux

Anunye Thomas

Ronald Turizo Bueno

Ashlyn Underwood

José Villeda

Phillip Voorhees

Presley Walsworth

Adeleine Whittle

Jordan Williams*

Hal Williams III

Yesenia Zapata

* faculty/community member # graduate student

Roster

Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra

Douglas Bakenhus, Music Director

Andrej Kurti, Assistant Conductor

Sofiko Tchetchelashvili, Instructor

Karla Gonzalez Bueno, Instructor

Bass

Violin 1

Carlos Diaz del Valle, concertmaster

Perla Hipp

Abigail Morales Ramos

Juliana Miller

Jose Mario Villeda

Lawson Kirsch

Ana Campos #

Violin 2

Oscar Andres Carballo Torres, principal

Natalie Hyde

JaNia Wallace

Chloe Hanchett

Ana Baltazar

Abigail Williams

Jessica Aylin Mata Hernandez

Jessyca Ludwig

Na’Riaya Sowell

Viola

Ronald Zaldana Sanchez, principal

Norman Martinez

Emma Felton

Salome Uribe

Matthew Samaha

Gabrielle Meziere

Cello

Jesus Calderon, co-principal

Brad Christian Powell, co-principal

Santiago Rovira

Maira Avellaneda +

Alejandro Restrepo Cardozo +

Ail Harris

Sienna Henderson #

William Shupak, principal

Rafael Melgar Caceres

Zavion Sowell *

Macyn Lacour #

Keyboard

Micah Dugas

José Luzuriaga Herrera

Oboes

Yesenia Zapata, principal

Joel Ramos

Valentina Restrepo

Aliyah Gonzalez

Bassoons

Alexis Ortega, principal

Victoria Gomez Borjas

Trumpets

Fredy Hernandez, principal

Evelyn Gardner

Timpani

Walker Libbe

+ Graduate student

# Natchitoches Central High School student

* LSMSA student

Applied Music Faculty

Dr. Douglas Bakenhus, bassoon

Mr. Luke Brouillette, guitar

Dr. Robert Cardwell, voice

Mr. Paul Christopher, cello

Dr. Stephen Clark, flute

Dr. Mary DeVille, organ

Ms. Leah Forsyth, oboe

Dr. Paul Forsyth, saxophone

Ms. Karla Gonzalez, bass

Dr. Chialing Hsieh, piano

Dr. Masahito Kuroda, euphonium/low brass

Dr. Andrej Kurti, violin/viola

Dr. Marcy McKee, voice

Dr. Malena McLaren, clarinet

Dr. Oliver Molina, percussion

Mr. Adam Philley, voice

Dr. John Price, piano

Mr. Galindo Rodriguez, trumpet

Dr. Terrie Sanders, voice

Dr. Alexis Sczepanik, horn

Mr. David Steele, clarinet

Dr. J. Mark Thompson, trombone/low brass

Ms. Sofiko Tchetchelashvili, violin/viola

Dr. Francis Yang, piano

2025- 2026

Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Society

Board of Directors

Mary Lou Brown, President

Samantha Thomas, President-Elect

Cecilia Smith, Secretary

Gayle Howell, Treasurer

Tom Caldwell

Vicki Caldwell

Linnye Daily

Desiree Dyess

Loren Ford

Lynnel Gill

Link Hall

Marion Johnston

Gina McCorkle

Carolyn Roy

Jacob Ruppert

Marty Sanders

Mickey Stroud

Diane Temple

Jeff Thomas

David Young

Honorary Board

Dr. Douglas Bakenhus, Conductor

Alma Alost

Martha Janes Genovese

Jennifer Maggio

Brenda Webb

Past Presidents

1966-68 Martha Roberson

1968-69 Jim Bob Key

1969-70 Frank S. Roberson

1970-71 Cecile Murphy

1971-72 James A. Ford

1972-73 Lovan Thomas

1973-74 Rosie McCoy

1974-75 Frank Roberson

1975-76 Tom Paul Southerland

1976-77 Kerlin Sutton

1977-79 Curt Kinard

1979-80 Robert Lucky, Jr.

1980-81 Cynthia Brown

1981-82 Albin Johnson and L. J. Melder, Jr.

1982-83 Maxine Southerland

1983-84 Bobbie Archibald

1984-85 Mary Jean Thomas

1985-86 Sharon Gahagan

1986-87 William H. Cross

1987-88 Margaret A. Adkins

1988-90 Patricia W. Thomas

1990-91 Raymond Gilbert

1991-92 Ryan Horton, Jr.

1992-93 Saidee Watson Newell

1993-94 Michael Wolff

1994-95 Gene Newman

1995-96 Ada Jarred

1996-97 Bill Mathis

1997-98 Joseph M. Henr y III

1998-99 Margaret Sutton

1999-2001 Jane Hall

2001-03 David Graham

2003-04 Ron McBride

2004-05 Loren Ford

2005-06 Markay Cunningham 2006-07 Steve Horton 2007-08 Jeff Thomas 2008-09 Anne Stevens 2009-10 Desiree Dyess 2010-11 Linnye Daily 2011-12 Marilyn McMurtry 2012-13 Linnye Daily 2013-14 Robert Scott 2014-15 Richard Rose 2015-17 Marty Sanders 2017-19 Rick Hudson

2019-20 Pat Thomas 2020-21 Tony Smith 2021-22 Loren Ford 2022-24 Gayle Howell 2024-25 Marion Johnston

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Young

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Townsend Sr., Alton Townsend, Jr.,

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Concertmaster

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Betty Zeagler, in memory

Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Society appreciates you supporting the Symphony and our Ad Patrons.

Proud supporters of Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony

President & First Lady James & Martha Genovese

Northwestern State University

A Special Thanks to our Conductor, Dr. Douglas Bakenhus, who brings us extraordinary music year after year.

Martin Sanders III

Music

Through the Years

Supporting

Natchitoches-Northwestern

Supporters of the NatchitochesNorthwestern Symphony Orchestra

Thank you for 60 years of outstanding musical performances and being a part of what makes Natchitoches great.

Evie & Lee Posey

530 FRONT STREET, SUITE A NATCHITOCHES LA 71457 (318) 352-1579

Celebrating 60 Years of Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony’s wonderful music. Compliments of a Symphony Friend

Have a Great Season!

Don & Pat Kelly

Supporters of the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra

Natchitoches, LA 71457 (318)

Court Counsel/District

Hearing Officer

10th Judicial District Court of Louisiana Natchitoches Parish

Serving the Louisiana Judiciary since 2005

Wishing the Symphony a Great Musical Year

A Supporter of the Symphony

In honor and celebration of the life of Mrs. Reva Campbell (1929-2020), music teacher, pianist and vocalist who generously shared her musicality with all who sought to ‘make a joyful noise’..

River South COMMONS

SHOPPING CENTER

311 South Drive

Natchitoches

Louisiana

In Memory of my Dad,

John D. Wingo

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Thank you! Your name will appear in the next program. All donations go to the Instrumentalists’ Scholarships.

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The Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Society

What began 60 years ago has evolved into a strong organization providing scholarships for orchestral musicians attending Northwestern State University. In 1966 the symphony society was formed as a college/community collaboration to promote music and the arts in the Natchitoches community. It has grown from just a few scholarships in the early years to over 29 students receiving symphony society scholarships for the 2025-2026 school year.

Creation of the non-profit organization was led by NSU music instructor/conductor Dr. Joseph B. Carlucci, Martha Roberson and Jim Bob Key. Local attorney, Arthur C. Watson, drew up the articles of incorporation and bylaws for the 19 member Board of Directors. The first Board of Directors included President Martha Roberson, Vice President Jim Bob Key, Secretary Edwina Friedman, Treasurer Arthur Watson; also serving as board members were Margaret Adkins, Dr. Archie Breazeale Jr., Ruth Cunningham, Hertzog DeBlieux, Norman Fletcher, Senator Sylvan Friedman, Harold Kaffie, Ed Pierson, Virginia Pierson, Mayor W. Ray Scott, Dr. Paul Torgrimson, Dorothy Townsend, and, of course, Dr. Carlucci.

Early concerts were performed in A.A. Fredericks Auditorium with the orchestra composed of students, faculty members and professional musicians hired from other orchestras. There were fewer concerts with the first concert performed in December, a formal affair with a Symphony Ball afterward at the local country club (no longer in existence). Over the years the orchestra became all student musicians and the symphony society became focused on providing scholarships for these students. With the creation of Magale Recital Hall, concerts became more welcoming to all with less formal environment and better sound quality.

Today, after 22 years under the direction of Dr. Douglas Bakenhus, the NSU worldclass orchestra performs five concerts throughout the year plus participating in the NSU School of Creative and Performing Arts Christmas Gala show. Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, written by attorney and board member Jeff Thomas, were adopted May 2, 2019 . Amended in 2025, the Mission Statement’s primary goal is “providing scholarships for orchestra musicians who attend Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.” The NNSS Board of Directors, 21 voting members, serve on a volunteer basis.

The orchestra is an amazing education and cultural asset to both the university and community. It is an essential recruiting tool for Dr. Bakenhus. Community support is vital to helping the symphony society continue to provide scholarships for these talented musicians. The Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Society is grateful and thanks you, the Friends of the Symphony, for your continued support.

Celebrating 60 Years of Music

NNSS History by Pat Thomas, Past President, with revisions 2025

Northwestern State University is located in beautiful, historic Natchitoches, Louisiana, the oldest (1714) settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. Northwestern State was founded in 1884 as Louisiana Normal School for the education of teachers. In 1921 the school’s name was changed to Louisiana State Normal College, then designated as Northwestern State College of Louisiana in 1944. Its current title, an indication of Northwestern State’s diversity of programs and services, became official in 1970.

Welcome to the MRS. H. D. DEAR, SR. AND ALICE E. DEAR SCHOOL OF CREATIVE & PERFORMING ARTS

Northwestern’s School of Creative and Performing Arts, designated as an “Area of Excellence” by the University of Louisiana Board of Trustees and generously endowed by the H.D. Dear family of Alexandria, Louisiana, is comprised of four areas: Music; Art; Theatre/Dance; and New Media, Journalism, and Communication Arts. All four disciplines confer undergraduate degrees, and Music and the Fine and Graphic Arts also offer graduate degrees.

To learn more about the School of Creative and Performing Arts, please contact: Mr. Scott Burrell, Director of CAPA ........................................(318) 357-4522 ..........nfburrellc@nsula.edu

Welcome to the NSU DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

To learn more about the Department of Music, please contact: Dr. Terrie Sanders, Department Head ..................................(318) 357-5762 ............sanderst@nsula.edu

NSU music students rehearse, attend classes, take private instruction, and perform in one of the most outstanding Performing Arts facilities in the South, the A.A. Fredericks Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, named to honor one of Northwestern State’s most outstanding administrators.

The Magale Recital Hall, endowed by the Magale family of Waterproof, Louisiana, seats over 400, and is one of the finest concert halls in the U.S. It is equipped with a 40-rank Reuter organ, two nine-foot grand pianos, and an Eric Hertz harpsichord. The 1400-seat Fine Arts Auditorium is used for larger concerts, musicals and opera, dance, and numerous theatre productions.

Many performing opportunities for students include several choirs, opera theatre, orchestra, marching band, wind ensemble, jazz orchestra, percussion ensemble, and a variety of chamber music groups. Degree offerings include the Bachelor of Music in Performance, the Bachelor of Music/Sacred Music Concentration, the Bachelor of Music Education, and the Master of Music.

PLAY WITH US! MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS @ NORTHWESTERN STATE

Students are eligible to receive scholarships for participation in music ensembles, regardless of their academic major. Scholarship awards vary, and are determined by factors including a talent audition, high school achievements, academic scores and financial need. For further information, please contact CAPA Director, Scott Burrell.

NSU’s Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) is dedicated to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable experience for all students, faculty and staff. CAPA will not tolerate racism or discrimination and is committed to creating a fair, empathetic, and just environment.

Northwestern State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, pregnancy or parenting status, and veteran or retirement status in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Complaints or inquiries related to Title IX should be directed to the Director of Student Advocacy and Title IX Coordinator, Julie Powell (318-357-5570). For Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) concerns, contact the Accessibility and Disability Support Director, Crissey Smith, at 318-357-5460. Additionally, Northwestern complies with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy & Campus Crime Statistics Act. Information about NSU’s campus security and crime statistics can be found at https://www.nsula.edu/universityaffairs/police/. Full disclosure statement: https://www.nsula.edu/iehr/.

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Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Program by Northwestern State University - Issuu