An original composition from one of OCCC’s own choir students will be performed in the choral concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, said music Professor Ron Staton.

Vocalists will showcase their musical skills at the Wilmont Place Baptist Church, located at 6440 S. Santa Fe in Oklahoma City.

“We are expecting a crowd of around 500 people,” Staton said.

The audience is too large to fit in the Bruce Owen Theater on campus, so Staton arranged for a larger venue off campus.

This is the sixth year Staton has conducted the school’s choral music performances.

To prepare for such a large crowd, Staton said he and his students have been attending three rehearsals per week all semester long.

The program will include “Toccata of Praise” by Joseph M. Martin, “Night and Day” by Cole Porter, and “If You Believe in Music” by Gary Fry, among other selections.

Some of the music being performed will sound familiar to those in the audience, Staton said.

The students will be performing music from popular movies as well as Broadway musicals, in addition to the standard concert repertory found in many of OCCC musical performances.

“We just try to have a variety so there is a little bit of something for everyone,” Staton said.

“People have different tastes and like different styles.

“By having such a wide range of music, all of our guests can hear something they like.”

The 17 student performers are involved in different choral groups on campus, including the Concert Choir, the Chamber Singers, the Symphonic Choir and the Community Choir.

Student Kirby Shaw is a chamber singer in the concert.

“I really enjoy being in the spring concert, “ he said.

“Because so many of the songs will be recognizable, I think our audience will too.”

To contact Mollie Hawkins, email onlineeditor@occc.edu.