Panola College Singers Perform in Dallas

Members of the Panola College Chorale participated in a Christmas Cantata with other community colleges in the Dallas area on December 3.

December 12, 2017 - Members of the Panola College Chorale performed along with choirs from Dallas-area community colleges in Daniel Pinkham’s “Christmas Cantata,” on Sunday, Dec. 3, at Central Lutheran Church in Dallas. 

Panola College was the only college outside the Dallas area that participated, according to Sandra Bauer, Panola College Vocal Music professor.

“We had 19 students who performed this extremely difficult music,” she said. “It took a lot of extra rehearsal time to perfect it, and I was pleased that my students were willing to put in the extra effort and extra time to audition for a chance to participate.”

Panola College students joined with singers from Richland College, Brookhaven College, and Tarrant County College-Northeast. Others performing included the Brookhaven Handbell Ensemble, Brookhaven Choral Society, Texas Woman’s University Chamber Singers, and The Vivace Madrigals.

Panola College singers making the trip included Ronke Ajoniloju, Nigeria; Shelby Brown, Carthage; Meosha Brown, Carthage;  Ahmadreion Casel, Jacksonville;  Loren Caserta, Beckville; Zakayla Cooper, Carthage; Afrikina Dotson, Center; Brittany Fendall, Shreveport; Emma Harden, Tyler; Tyesha High, Jacksonville; Madison Hudson, Garrison; Shannon James, Tenaha; Hunter Moon, Beckville; Nichole Painter, Marshall; Kyana Reagan, Lufkin; Mia Sartor, Carthage; Ahna Stacy, Carthage; Jame’Cia Taylor, Carthage;  and Sydnee Taylor, Carthage.

As part of the program, the Panola College Chamber Singers performed “Veni, Veni, Emmanuel,” an ancient chant arranged by John Englert. The Singers performed this piece at Christmas in Carthage this year. The Dallas performance program was entitled “Sing Noel, Lessons & Carols for Advent & Christmas,” featuring the Festival Community College Choirs and Ensembles.

“This was the first year this event has ever happened. Melody Gamblin Bullock, director at Brookhaven, approached me at the Texas Music Educators Association last year with the idea of combining choirs to produce a major work,” Bauer said.

While in Dallas, the Panola College group attended a performance of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, which featured music from the nationally recognized organ that is part of the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

“The majority of our students had never been to a symphony, much less one as incredible as the Dallas Symphony. It was the Christmas Pops Show, so the Dallas Symphony Chorus performed, and our students were able to hear that choir, which was absolute perfection,” Bauer added.

Shannon James, a Panola College vocal music student, said, “Singing the piece by Pinkham with several Dallas community colleges was already amazing, but thanks to Mrs. Bauer, we got to experience the Dallas Symphony. The trip was an incredible experience and I’m so grateful to be a part of the Panola College Music Department.”