Nov. 11, 2019: WTAMU Choirs, Fall Concert

The WTAMU choirs created celestial sounds in the new acoustical heaven on earth, Northern Recital Hall, in their fall choir concert, held October 18. Needless to say, the hall transformed the national-class quality of these singers into undeniably world-class!

Three groups performed: the Chamber Singers; the Collegiate Choir; the combined University Chorale and Collegiate Choir. Dr. Sean Pullen directed all of the singers, with single numbers directed by graduate conductors Allie Bryan, Lowell Castolenia and Anthony Vickery.

The selections in the program of the Chamber Singers ranged from Late Renaissance to modern, from liturgical to popular.

Thus, the contemporary work of Paul Becker, Missa Kenya. Becker held, among many positions, that of cultural affairs specialist for the Foreign Service in Kenya, and this Gloria, though in Latin, hops with tribal rhythms, drums and clapping. These exceptional young artists had no problem appropriating the Kenyan spirit in performance.

The Collegiate Choir sang a work in the Kalka dialect of Mongolia, a sound I haven’t heard since I did Ger B & B’s in the Gobi to celebrate my retirement. After all, the Mongolian steppes have a great deal in common with the High Plains of Texas, so why shouldn’t a group of talented Texas collegians sing in Mongolian?

And, speaking of speaking in tongues, the combined choirs performed in six languages: Latin, English, German, French, Russian and Swahili! I have heard them sing in other languages in other concerts. Regardless, whether singing in Latin, Hebrew or Choctaw, these singers comport themselves as world-class!

Director Sean Pullen said that this was the best October choir he’s ever had. We look forward to hearing similar assessments as the school year progresses, because that means we’ll hear more of these singers.

This performance was both a privilege and a treat. And, because the singing allied with the world’s finest adjustable acoustical sound space, the sound was unmatched!

Because of quality artistry like the WTAMU choirs, which, like the Panhandle wind, is steady state, we similarly state with conviction, “Keep Amarillo Artsy! Keep Austin Weird! Keep Lubbock in the Rear View Mirror!!!!”