Music Majors to Present Senior Recital

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Westminster College oboist Jennie Smith and flutist Erin Thompson will present their senior recital Sunday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m. in Wallace Memorial Chapel. The concert is free and open to the public.

The program includes selections by Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach, Malcolm Arnold, and Sergei Prokofiev.

Smith, a music and Christian education major, is a daughter of Kendall and Julia Smith of Trophy Club, Texas, and a graduate of Western Hills High School.

While at Westminster, Smith was principal oboist in the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Orchestra, Chamber Winds, and Student Woodwind Quintet. She has played with the Greenville Symphony, Westminster Chapel Drama, Theatre Westminster, and Opera Westminster. She participated in the 2008 and 2009 Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band and was principal oboist in the 2009 CBDNA National Small College Intercollegiate Band. A Vance and Young Presbyterians Scholar, Smith is a member of Titan Traverse and Gospel Choir and is a Christian education intern at Harlansburg Presbyterian Church. She is from the studio of Shawn Reynolds, Westminster adjunct music faculty.

Thompson, a music education major, is a daughter of Thomas and Linda Thompson of Imperial and a graduate of West Allegheny High School.

During her time at Westminster, Thompson was active in the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Flute Choir, Chamber Winds, Student Woodwind Quintet, Concert Choir, Chapel Drama, and Opera Westminster. She is past president of the Marching and Symphonic Bands and field commander for the Marching Band. She participated in the 2009 Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band and the National Intercollegiate Band and is one of three student conductors selected to direct the Wind Ensemble in its Young Conductors Concert. Thompson holds offices in several campus organizations, is the assistant marching band director at Beaver Area High School, and teaches private lessons through the West Allegheny School District. She studies with David Tessmer, Westminster adjunct music faculty.

Contact Westminster's Department of Music at (724) 946-7270 for additional information.

About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is a top tier liberal arts college and a national leader in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Guide to America's Best Colleges. Westminster ranked third among liberal arts colleges in social mobility, according to the Washington Monthly College Guide, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 371 Colleges" and "Best in the Northeast" by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President's Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.

Nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 41 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus.