WT ensembles picked to perform at Music Educators Convention

Feb. 1—CANYON — Two of West Texas A&M University's premiere music ensembles are set to perform at a statewide gathering of educators. The WT School of Music's Symphonic Band and the Chorale each will perform during the 2024 Texas Music Educators Association convention in San Antonio.

Before the TMEA appearance, the ensembles will offer a concert at 5 p.m. Feb. 4 in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall on WT's Canyon campus. Admission is free, but tickets are required. To register, visit showtix4u.com/event-details/80359.

"This will be the Symphonic Band's 16th appearance at the convention, and we celebrate the dedication, hard work and tradition of excellence that this ensemble has accomplished," said Don Lefevre, director of bands and WT's Gary Garner Professor of Band, in a news release.

"The WT Chorale's performance for TMEA will be a monumental achievement. The audition process for TMEA is rigorous, and only two university choirs from all division levels are selected each year to perform," Dr. Sean Pullen, professor of music and director of choral activities, said in the release. "The fact that WT has a choral program that can compete with Division I universities across the state is significant especially considering the reputation for a high level of excellence that Texas choral programs hold across the nation."

The Symphonic Band will perform for TMEA at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 8 in the Lila Cockrell Theatre in the Henry B. González Convention Center in downtown San Antonio.

The Chorale will perform for TMEA at 8 p.m. Feb. 8 in the Stars at Night Ballroom, also in the González Convention Center.

The TMEA convention is the largest such event for music educators in the nation, offering teachers opportunities for professional development and networking. It also is a prime opportunity for WT, Pullen said.

"The impact for our student recruitment will be extensive, and the exposure of the WT choral program will enhance its strong reputation in the state," Pullen said.

In addition to its TMEA performance, the Symphonic Band will offer free concerts on their way to San Antonio:

— 2 p.m. Feb. 6 in the Midland High School band room;

— 7 p.m. Feb. 6 in the Permian High School band room;

— 1 p.m. Feb. 7 in the Brady High School band room; and

— 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 in the John Paul Stevens High School Auditorium in San Antonio.

Fostering an appreciation of the arts is a key component of the University's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World. That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign's new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $150 million.