The Angelina College music department is hosting an alumni scholarship recital Oct. 23 at 2:30 p.m. in Temple Theater. A reception to honor the alumni performing will be held in the ACA lobby immediately after the recital.
The event is being held to raise scholarship donations for the Dr. Jack Hudgins Memorial Scholarship. Hudgins was the first president of Angelina College and taught music part-time upon his retirement. This scholarship was established by friends and family to recognize outstanding students.
Alumni scheduled to perform include Kaleb Benge, Kyle Saunders, Sarah Jackson, Colby Cates, Anna Harbuck, Charles Watson, Kathryn Owen, Chance Moore, Erin Nelson Watson, Thomas Furlow and Tiffany Ruizo. Dr. Karen McBee, associate dean of instruction in Fine Arts and Beckie Compton, music instructor, will also perform.
Kaleb Benge played in the AC guitar ensemble. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from Stephen F. Austin State University. Benge is now a music teacher at Timber Ridge Elementary School in Killeen. He will perform “Bourrée from E-minor Lute Suite” by Johann Sebastian Bach, and an Afro-Cuban lullaby.
Kyle Saunders was a member of the AC jazz combo. He will complete his bachelor’s degree in music education from SFASU in May. Saunders has performed at the Interharmony International Music Festival in Italy. He will perform “Sonata in B-flat Major, K. 570” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and “Pagodes” by Claude Debussy.
Sarah Jackson was a member of AC Singers and Chorale and received the Eunice Vickery Memorial Scholarship. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in music education from Lamar University and is now employed as a music teacher at Herty Primary School in Lufkin. “I received a music scholarship from AC that allowed me to be involved in choir and AC Singers while taking classes to earn my degree,” Jackson said. She will perform “In Uomini, in Soldati” by Mozart and “Vergebliches Standchen” by Johannes Brahms.
Colby Cates was a member of the AC guitar ensemble. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in music education from SFASU and is now a music teacher at Trout Primary School. Cates will perform “Rosto Colado” by Paulo Belliniati and “Capricho Arabe” by Francisco Tarrega.
Anna Harbuck was a member of AC Singers and Chorale. She was a recipient of the Fine Arts Scholarship, the Charles Hogan Music Scholarship and the Elizabeth Blair/Mary Clark Endowment Scholarship. Harbuck earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary music education from SFASU and is currently completing her master’s degree at SFASU as well. She is the organist at First Baptist Church in Lufkin and an adjunct music instructor at Angelina College. “The scholarship I received provided me financial support, which allowed me to focus on achieving quality accomplishments in both my music and academic pursuits,” Harbuck said. She will perform “Nocturne Op. 9 No. 5” by John Field and “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” by Anthony Showalter and Bruce Greer.
Charles Watson was a member of guitar ensemble and jazz combo while attending AC. He earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from UT-Tyler and his master’s degree in music from UT-Dallas. Watson now teaches classical guitar, concert band and jazz band at International Leadership of Texas in Richardson. He will perform “Prelude No. 1” by Heitor Villa-Lobos and “Amazing Grace” arranged by Mark Anthony Cruz.
Kathryn Owens served as team captain of AC Singers and was a member of Chorale. She was a recipient of the Charles Stephens Memorial Scholarship and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in music from Lamar University. Owens is the director of choirs and assistant to bands at Hamshire-Fannet ISD. She is pursuing a master’s degree in music education from Kent State University. “Scholarships at AC were essential for my college career. Without these scholarships, I would not have been able to even attend college! I appreciate all of the faculty and staff at AC and I know that I would not be the educator that I am today without a strong foundation to start my education,” Owens said. She will perform “Il Neige des Fleurs” by Félix Fourdrain and “O Mio Babbino Caro” by Giacomo Puccini.
Chance Moore earned his associate degree in music at AC in 2014. He was a recipient of the Swingin’ Roadrunner Jazz Band Scholarship. He went on to graduate magna cum laude from SFASU with a bachelor’s degree in music composition. Moore is currently pursuing his master’s degree in music theory and composition at SFASU. He is employed as a guitar instructor in the SFASU music preparatory program and as an instrumentalist for First United Methodist Church in Nacogdoches. “I’m very grateful for having received the aid that I had at Angelina. The scholarship allowed me to concentrate on my academics without having to get loans or a job, giving me the chance I needed to get ahead in my music studies. Had it not been for the generosity of others, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.” Moore said. He will perform his original compostion, “Snowstorm.”
Erin Nelson Watson was a member of AC Singers and Chorale. She was a recipient of the Fine Arts Scholarship, the Christine Spivey Birge Scholarship and the Eunice Vickery Memorial Scholarship. Watson went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in arts and performance from UT-Dallas. She and her husband, Charles Watson perform as guest worship leaders in area churches. Watson also performs with bands in various genres such as jazz, rock, country and gospel. Accompanied by her husband, she will perform “Nacht Und Traume” by Franz Schubert and “What Grace is Mine” by Keith and Kristyn Getty.
Thomas Furlow studied piano at Angelina College while earning his vocational nursing certificate. He is currently working on his RN degree and serves as assistant music director at First Methodist Church in Jasper. Furlow is employed by Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital. He will perform “Liebesträume” by Franz Liszt and “Malaguena” by Ernesto Lecuono.
Tiffany Ruizo was a recipient of the Fine Arts Scholarship when she studied at AC. She will complete her bachelor’s degree in music performance at Lamar University in the spring. “I received a band scholarship every year that I attended AC. It covered my entire tuition and allowed me to save money in order to attend a university. It covered the costs of my required classes and a few extra music classes that I was not required to take part in but wished to know more about. I am extremely grateful that I did not have to worry about paying for school because this scholarship gave me an ease of mind and allowed me to focus more on my schoolwork.” Ruizo said. She will perform “Nocturne from Two Pieces for Violin and Piano” by Lili Boulanger, and “Sonata for Flute and Piano” by Otar Taktakishvili.
For more information about the music program at Angelina College, call (936) 633-5233. For more information about scholarships at Angelina College, contact Megan Flowers at (936) 633-4545.
Story by Angelina College Communications Coordinator Nancy Reynolds
