Art season WT 2024-2025 announced with a wide range of exhibitions and performances

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas – The arts are flourishing at West Texas A&M University.

Students and faculty members alike in WT’s Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts are planning an extensive program of art exhibitions, concerts and recitals, dance pieces, and theater and opera performances for the 2024-2025 academic year.

“The Arts Season at WT provides residents across the Panhandle with the opportunity to experience the excellence of our students and faculty at various venues on the WT campus,” said Dr. Dan Peterson, dean. “The efforts of these artists, musicians and performers enrich the culture of our community, and we invite you to enjoy them.”

Classes begin on August 26. Move-in day is August 22, and Buff Branding, the traditional welcoming weekend for new and returning students, will be August 22-24.

Students and teachers in School of Music and the Department of Art, Theatre and Dance will be featured at dozens of events on campus.

“Theater audiences will experience the regional premieres of two impressive shows, as well as a classic French farce and a beloved musical comedy,” said Anne Medlock-Ely, director of the Department of Arts, Theatre and Dance. “Our dancers will provide exciting evenings showcasing both artistry and athleticism, and our artists will present stunning, thought-provoking exhibits, including a collaboration with the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.”

In addition, a wide range of musical experiences are planned, said Dr. BJ Brooks, director of the School of Music.

“We are very excited about the upcoming music season at WT,” said Brooks. “We have put together a diverse program – from the power of our symphony orchestra to the emotion of our choral ensembles – that highlights the talent and hard work of our students and faculty. Our season will conclude with the Showcase of Music, presented in grand style in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex auditorium. Each event is an opportunity to experience something special, and we can’t wait to share our music with our community.”

In addition, WT artists will play a major role in several art offerings in Amarillo.

The WT Symphony Orchestra will be on the program for “Symphony Spooktacular” by the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra Concerts on Oct. 25 at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St. The WT art faculty will display their works in a regional faculty exhibition Oct. 4-Jan. 5 at the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, 2503 Fourth Ave. Faculty members and students will also be featured in the annual WT/Amarillo College Faculty/Student Art Exhibition in the spring at the Amarillo Museum of Art, 2200 S. Van Buren St.

Several events in the art calendar are exclusive activities for members of The Arts at WT: A Subscription SeriesMemberships are still available.

Promoting appreciation for the arts and attracting and retaining the best students are central components of the university’s long-term plan. WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

This plan is driven by the historic A West comprehensive fundraising campaign that reached its original goal of $125 million 18 months after its public launch in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; nearly $160 million has currently been raised.

The schedule (subject to change) includes free and ticketed events:

• 26 August to 12 October: Art exhibition by Jon Revett; Dord Fitz Formal Gallery; opening reception, September 5, 5-7 p.m.; free;
• 27 August: WT School of Music Faculty Showcase; 7:30 p.m.; Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall; free;
• 26 September to 6 October: Musical theater performance “Alice By Heart”; Sept. 26-28 and Oct. 3-5, 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, 2:30 p.m.; Happy State Bank Studio Theater; tickets $16 adults, $12 seniors and students, free for WT students, faculty and staff with Buff Gold Card;
• 28 and 29 September: Opera performance of “Doctor Miracle,” September 28, 7:30 p.m. and September 29, 2:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall, tickets $15;
• October 3: Opera Cowgirls; 7:30 p.m.; Jack B. Kelley Student Center Legacy Hall; open to members of The Arts at WT subscription series, nonmember tickets $50;
• October 3: Saxophone Studio; 7:30 p.m.; Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex Recital Hall; free;
• October 7: Electronic Ensemble; 7pm; Dord Fitz Formal Gallery; free;
• October 17: WT Choirs; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• 21 October to 30 November: Art exhibition by Younus Nomani; Dord Fitz Formal Gallery; opening reception 5-7pm, Nov. 7; free;
• October 24 to November 3: “The Gamester” theater performance; Oct. 24-26 and Nov. 1-2, 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 27 and Nov. 3, 2:30 p.m.; Branding Iron Theater; tickets $12 adults, $8 seniors and students, free for WT students, faculty and staff with Buff Gold Card;
• 7 November: “The Language of Poplars: A Dialogue on the Plains and Sense of Place”; 7 p.m.; Legacy Hall; open to members of The Arts at WT subscription series;
• 8 November: Harrington String Quartet; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall;
• 14 November: WT Jazz; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• 17 November: Faculty Brass Quintet; 6 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall;
• 21 to 24 November: ““Falling Into Dance” dance performance; Nov. 21-23, 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 24, 2:30 p.m.; Happy State Bank Studio Theatre; admission $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, free for WT students, faculty and staff with Buff Gold Card;
• 21 November: Saxophone Studio; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• December 4th: WT Concert and Symphony Bands; 6 and 8 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• 5 to 21 December: Bachelor of Fine Arts Fall Exhibition; Dord Fitz Formal Gallery; opening reception Dec. 5, 5-7 p.m.; free;
• December 7: WT Chamber Singers; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• December 8: Music of the Holiday Season: “Walking in the Air,” with WT Symphony Orchestra, choirs and dance; 4 and 7 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall;
• 21 January to 7 March: WT Art Faculty Exhibition; Dord Fitz Formal Gallery; opening reception, February 6, 5-7pm; free;
• Dec. 24: WT Opera Gala honoring Mila Gibson; location to be announced; tickets $100 each, $1,000 for place cards
• January 28: Grand Faculty Concert; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• 6 to 16 February: “Artemisia” theater performance; Feb. 6-8 and Feb. 13-15, 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 9-16, 2:30 p.m.; Happy State Bank Studio Theater; tickets $12 adults, $8 seniors and students, free for WT students, faculty and staff with Buff Gold Card;
• February 6: “Illumination” by WT Dance; 7:00 p.m.; Legacy Hall; open to members of The Arts at WT subscription series;
• February 20: Saxophone Studio; 7:30 p.m.; Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex Recital Hall; free;
• February 21: Harrington String Quartet; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall;
• February 22: “Music of America” by the WT Symphony Orchestra; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• February 28: Grace Hamilton Piano Festival with Kenny Broberg; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall;
• March 2: WT Choirs; 2:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• March 2: WT Concert Band; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• March 6: WT Symphonic Band; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• March 20: “Art for the People” – Spotlight on murals and public art; 6:00 p.m.; location to be announced; open to members of The Arts at WT subscription series;
• 24 March to 26 April: Guest art exhibition by Nishiki Sugawara-Beda; Dord Fitz Formal Gallery; opening reception April 3, 5-7pm; free;
• 29 and 30 March: Opera performance of “Albert Herring” with Chamber Music Amarillo, Harrington String Quartet and conductor George Jackson; March 29, 7:30 p.m. and March 30, 2:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; tickets $20;
• 3 to 6 April: ““Portraits of Dance” dance performance; April 3-5, 7:30 p.m. and April 6, 2:30 p.m.; Branding Iron Theatre; admission $12 adults, $8 seniors and students, free for WT students, faculty and staff with Buff Gold Card;
• April 3: Saxophone Studio; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• 6 April: Mozart’s Requiem with WT Choirs and Symphony Orchestra; 2:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; tickets $10;
• April 10: WT Jazz; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• 11 April: Words and Movement Project; 3:00 p.m.; Happy State Bank Studio Theatre; free;
• 13 April: Faculty Brass Quintet; 6 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; admission free;
• April 24 to May 4: “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” – musical theater performance; April 24-26 and May 1-3, 7:30 p.m., May 4, Branding Iron Theater; admission $16 adults, $12 seniors and students, free for WT students, faculty and staff with Buff Gold Card;
• 27 April: Harrington String Quartet; 3pm Northen Recital Hall;
• 27 April: World Music Festival; 5pm; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• 1 to 24 May: Bachelor of Fine Arts Spring Exhibition; Dord Fitz Formal Gallery; opening reception, May 1, 5-7 p.m.; free;
• May 2: Showcase of Music; 7:30 p.m.; Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St.; free;
• May 4: WT Choirs; 2:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• May 6: Honors Recital; 6:00 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; admission free;
• May 7: WT Concert and Symphony Bands; 6 and 8 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• May 9: WT Dance Choreographers’ Showcase; 5 p.m.; venue to be announced; free.

For information or tickets to School of Music performances, call 806-651-2780 or visit wtamu.edu/musicFor information or tickets to opera performances, call 806-651-2780 or wtamu.edu/operaFor information or tickets to Harrington String Quartet performances, call 806-651-2780 or visit wtamu.edu/music; Season tickets are $50 and single tickets are $20 each.

For information on art exhibitions, send an email to [email protected].

For information or tickets to theater performances, call 806-651-2810, email [email protected] or visit wtamu.edu/theaterFor information or tickets to dance performances, call 806-651-2810, email [email protected] or visit wtamu.edu/dancing.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Founded in 1910, the university has been part of the Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic-only institution since 2016, has an enrollment of approximately 10,000 students and offers 59 bachelor’s degree programs and more than 40 master’s programs, including two doctoral degrees. The university is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the state’s largest history museum and one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offer 14 men’s and women’s athletic programs.

—CERTAIN—