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With a Little Help from Their Friends: Comptons, Fellow Local Artists to Perform at Kennedy Center

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Over the past few years, Angelina College’s Beckie Compton and husband Bryan have had the privilege of performing at one of the nation’s most revered venues: Carnegie Hall. Just last summer, the couple were part of the performers backing Grammy- and Dove Award-winning artist Lauren Daigle.

Beckie and Bryan Compton, who have performed twice at Carnegie Hall, will take a group of friends along for a Feb. 3 performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (Gary Stallard/AC News Service photo)

Shortly after the Daigle concert, Beckie received another request from True North Presents, the organizers of the previous performances. This time, the organization was inviting Beckie and Bryan to a performance at yet another hallowed hall: The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

And this time, the Comptons were asked to bring along some friends.

“The organizer of this upcoming event contacted me and told me they had some openings,” Beckie said. “First he asked about the orchestra, and I was like, ‘Yeah, I definitely know some people.’ The main thing is he wanted to be sure they are high-caliber musicians who were willing to work on the music before we go up there.

“I looked at the music and I knew our friends could do this.”

The Comptons and friends will be a big part of “Saviour: A Modern Oratorio,” which will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the composition and will take place on Monday, Feb. 3. in Washington.

Beckie said the performance will offer two parts: The first will feature guest performers, including Dove Award nominee Travis Cottrell, among others. The group from Lufkin will back Cottrell and the other vocalists.

The second half will consist of the full performance of “Saviour: A Modern Oratorio.”

Beckie, who currently serves as Chair of AC’s School of Visual and Performing Arts, regularly hosts concerts on the Angelina College campus. Musicians and vocalists from all over East Texas perform with her, with nearly all of them having some sort of connection to Angelina College – including current and former employees and students, with most of them members of the East Texas Praise Symphony or the AC Chorale and Friends.

Angelina College’s Beckie Compton directs the orchestra and choir during a recent concert at Temple Theater on the AC campus. (Clara Sonet/AC News Service photo)

From such a deep pool of talent, Beckie was able to fit the requested needs for the upcoming Kennedy Center performance.

“I wish I could have invited all my friends here, but there were only so many openings offered to us,” Beckie explained.

Joining the Comptons (Beckie on piano and Bryan as a vocalist-bass) at the Kennedy Center will be vocalists Billy Forrest (tenor), Cliff Layton (tenor), Keith Elliott (tenor), Dana Forrest (alto), Cheryl Sims (alto), Tammy Oliver (soprano), Shelby Brown (soprano) and Sarah Jackson (soprano).

Instrumentalists include Steven Brown (trumpet), Stephen Sterling (tuba), Evelyn Walker (flute), Lori Letney (flute), Ramona Elliott (flute), Karen Mitchell (clarinet), Connor Ainsworth (timpani) and Martha Johanna (harp.)

Angelina College’s Beckie Compton presents the orchestra to the crowd during a recent concert at Temple Theater on the AC campus.(Elizabeth Craig/AC News Service photo)

Bryan noted that his wife’s reputation had a lot to do with bringing along an entire contingency of East Texas performers.

“It really says a lot about her name in the music community that the organization trusted her to find quality musicians and singers,” Bryan said. “We’re going to be sitting alongside professional performers, and they knew Beckie would find the right people for the job.”

“It’s an absolute honor to get to be a part of this,” Beckie said. “I’m particularly pleased that the college allows me to participate in this as part of professional development.

“But even more awesome is getting to bring my friends with me and to see their excitement building. We’ve been rehearsing – mostly they’ve been coming to my house – and it’s just so much fun to do this together.”

Angelina College’s Beckie Compton (front row, far left) poses with husband Bryan (top row, second from right) and friends during a recent rehearsal. The Comptons and these other musicians and vocalists will perform as part of “Saviour: A Modern Oratorio” on Feb. 3 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (Gary Stallard/AC News Service photo)

 

Gary Stallard
Sports Information Director Gary Stallard, who also serves as a Liberal Arts Instructor, begins his eleventh season with Angelina College. Following a career as a U.S. Marine, Stallard completed his bachelor’s degree at Stephen F. Austin University, where he majored in English and Journalism. For more than 16 years, he has worked as a sports writer/columnist/photographer for the Lufkin Daily News; he continues to contribute free-lance articles on occasion. Stallard has won several awards for writing, including the Golden Hoops Award for basketball writing in 2003, Regional Sports Writer of the Year in 2004, and the Texas Press Association’s first-place award for column writing in 2007 and in 2014. He has also done basketball, football and baseball radio and live streaming play-by- play and color commentary for an ESPN affiliate. Currently Stallard serves as play-by-play broadcaster for AC basketball, baseball and softball games. Prior to arriving at Angelina College, Stallard taught English at Lufkin High School for four years. He currently teaches Developmental Writing classes at AC. He and his wife Susan live in Lufkin.

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