NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

3/11/2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- Growing up, Sawyer Thomas became familiar with two things ­ music and Northwestern State University. Today, she is expressing her feelings about music as a member of Northwestern State's Chamber Choir. Thomas will be performing with the choir Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall.

The Chamber Choir is conducted by Dr. Burt Allen, director of choral activities at NSU. Ana Palanciuc, a senior music performance major at Northwestern, will accompany the Chamber Choir.

NSU's Concert Choir will open the program. The Concert Choir will be conducted by Wendy Morgan, a graduate assistant in choral music. She will be assisted by Betsy Allums Widhalm on piano.

The Chamber Choir will perform songs from five different periods. The first will represent 18th century Vienna followed by 19th century Germany then Spanish influences. English folk songs will be followed by an American artistic song and a spiritual.

"The program we're performing shows all different styles that require singing in a different way," said Thomas, a vocal music education major from Kelly. "The Brahms is very demanding while the American and Spanish works flow well and are very pretty."

Thomas plans to teach choral music in elementary/secondary schools. Performing in Northwestern's Concert Choir is preparing her for a teaching career.

"I am being exposed to different types of music, which will help me when I become a teacher," she said. "It is helping me build a repertoire of things I can use with my students."

"I have always loved music and I want to help others have the same love I have. It is a great way for people to express themselves. I want to teach children to love music the way I do."

Thomas' parents, Mary Rogers Thomas and Keith Thomas met at NSU and became educators. Her aunt is a music teacher.

"There was always a lot of music in my family. People were singing and playing," said Thomas. "A lot of people in my family went to Northwestern. I learned a lot about music by looking through old yearbooks. I knew its music program was one of the best in the state."

Thomas' decision to attend Northwestern became easier when she met Allen while performing with a high school honor choir during her sophomore year in high school.

"I saw that Dr. Allen really knew what he was doing," said Thomas. "He makes you want to be better and teaches you how to interpret music to make you better. Dr. Allen creates a good atmosphere with the choir and that helps you want to perform better."

Thomas said Northwestern's voice faculty takes the time to work with her individually and she has noticed the improvement she has made.

"I have improved because of the wonderful voice lessons I have received," she said. "The faculty has taught me how to sing and interpret music better. I know I have improved quite a lot."

Admission to Monday's concert is free and open to the public.

Main Menu