Upcoming Organ Concerts Will Honor Joyce Jones and Celebrate Halloween

Follow us on Twitter: @BaylorUMedia
Media contact: Terry Goodrich, (254) 710-3321
WACO, Texas (Oct. 30, 2015) – Baylor University’s School of Music will host two organ concerts, 4 p.m. in Markham Organ Studio and 7:30 p.m. in Jones Concert Hall, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, for the Baylor community.
The first will celebrate the ongoing legacy of Joyce Jones, who was the Joyce Oliver Bowden Professor of Music, professor of organ and organist-in-residence at Baylor from 1969 until her retirement in August 2012.
The School of Music will celebrate her legacy at the concert by naming the tracker organ in Markham Organ Studio the Joyce Jones Létourneau Organ. The concert will feature seven of Jones’ former students: Joel Bacon, Aaron Garcia, Chris Johnson, Don McManus, Eric Mellenbruch, Becky Ward and Bradley Hunter Welch.
“Dr. Jones continues to add a remarkable legacy that has brought great distinction to the organ’s unique place in academic and religious settings,” said Isabelle Demers, DMA, assistant professor of organ at Baylor. “She transformed the lives of countless students through her teaching, and was a positive, energetic presence in the Baylor community.”
The 7:30 p.m. concert will be Baylor’s 25th Annual Halloween Organ Concert. Baylor organ students will perform, as well as Demers. Attendees are invited to come in costume if they so desire.
The program will cover everything from J.S. Bach to Andrew Lloyd Webber and John Williams. Music will span original organ works such as the Gigout Toccata to transcriptions including the Harry Potter Suite.
Prior to the show at 7 p.m. there will be a bake sale in the foyer of McCrary Music Building to support the organ department’s study trip to Europe in 2017.
Both events are free and open to the public. The Markham Organ Studio and Jones Concert Hall are located in McCrary Music Building at 110 Baylor Ave.
For more information, contact Isabelle Demers .
by Bethany Harper , student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC
The Baylor University School of Music provides transformational experiences that prepare students for careers in music. Our students thrive in a Christian environment characterized by a nurturing resident faculty, an unwavering pursuit of musical excellence, a global perspective, dedication to service, and devotion to faith. They investigate the rich musical and cultural heritage of the past, develop superior musical skills and knowledge in the present, and explore and create new modes of musical expression for the future. While preparing for future leadership roles, the students join with School of Music faculty in enhancing the quality of community life, enriching the larger culture, and making Baylor a place in which heart, mind and soul coalesce. The School of Music of Baylor University is a member of the National Association of Schools of Music and the Texas Association of Music Schools. Degree programs leading to the bachelor of music education degree conform to certification requirements of the Texas Education Agency.