WT 2024-2025 Arts Season Announced with Wide Offering of Exhibitions, Performances

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — The arts are thriving at West Texas A&M University.

Students and faculty members alike in WT’s Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts are planning a full slate of art exhibitions, concerts and recitals, dance pieces, and theatrical and operatic performances for the 2024-2025 academic year.

“The arts season at WT provides an opportunity for residents across the Panhandle to experience the excellence of our students and faculty as demonstrated at a variety of WT campus venues,” said Dr. Dan Peterson, dean. “The efforts of these artists, musicians, and performers brings a richness to the culture of our community that we invite you to enjoy.”

Classes begin Aug. 26. Move-In Day is Aug. 22, and Buff Branding, the traditional welcome weekend for new and returning students, is Aug. 22 to 24.

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

“Theatre audiences will experience the regional debuts of two powerful shows, as well as a classic French farce and a beloved musical comedy,” said Anne Medlock-Ely, head of the Department of Art, Theatre and Dance. “Our dancers will offer thrilling evenings that will display both artistry and athleticism, and our artists will provide stunning, thought-provoking exhibitions, including a collaboration with Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.”

A wide range of musical experiences also are planned, said Dr. B.J. Brooks, director of the School of Music.

“We’re very excited about the upcoming season of music at WT,” Brooks said. “We’ve put together a diverse lineup of performances—from the power of our Symphony Orchestra to the emotion of our choral ensembles—that highlight the talent and hard work of our students and faculty. Our season will culminate with the Showcase of Music, presented in grand fashion in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium. Each event is a chance to experience something special, and we can’t wait to share our music with our community.”

Additionally, WT artists will play vital roles in several Amarillo arts offerings.

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

Several events on the arts calendar will be exclusive activities for members of The Arts at WT: A Subscription Series. Memberships are still available.

Fostering an appreciation for the arts and engaging and retaining the best students are key components of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised nearly $160 million.

The schedule, subject to change, includes free and ticketed events:

• Aug. 26 to Oct. 12: Art exhibition by Jon Revett; Dord Fitz Formal Gallery; opening reception 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 5; free;
• Aug. 27: WT School of Music Faculty Showcase; 7:30 p.m.; Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall; free;
• Sept. 26 to Oct. 6: “Alice By Heart” musical theatre performance; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 26 to 28 and Oct. 3 to 5 and 2:30 p.m. Sept. 29 and Oct. 6; Happy State Bank Studio Theatre; tickets $16 adults, $12 seniors and students, free for WT students, faculty and staff with Buff Gold Card;
• Sept. 28 and 29: “Doctor Miracle” opera performance; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 and 2:30 p.m. Sept. 29; Northen Recital Hall; tickets $15;
• Oct. 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;
• Oct. 3: Saxophone Studio; 7:30 p.m.; Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex Recital Hall; free;
• Oct 7: Electronic Ensemble; 7 p.m.; Dord Fitz Formal Gallery; free;
• Oct. 17: WT Choirs; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• Oct. 21 to Nov. 30: Art exhibition by Younus Nomani; Dord Fitz Formal Gallery; opening reception 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 7; free;
• Oct. 24 to Nov. 3: “The Gamester” theatre performance; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 to 26 and Nov. 1 to 2 and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 27 and Nov. 3; Branding Iron Theatre; tickets $12 adults, $8 seniors and students, free for WT students, faculty and staff with Buff Gold Card;
• Nov. 7: “The Language of the Cottonwoods: A Dialogue on the Plains and Sense of Place”; 7 p.m; Legacy Hall; open to members of The Arts at WT subscription series;
• Nov. 8: Harrington String Quartet; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall;
• Nov. 14: WT Jazz; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• Nov. 17: Faculty Brass Quintet; 6 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall;
• Nov. 21 to 24: “Falling Into Dance” dance performance; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21 to 23 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 24; Happy State Bank Studio Theatre; tickets $12 adults, $8 seniors and students, free for WT students, faculty and staff with Buff Gold Card;
• Nov. 21: Saxophone Studio; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• Dec. 4: WT Concert and Symphonic Bands; 6 and 8 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• Dec. 5 to 21: Fall Bachelor of Fine Arts exhibition; Dord Fitz Formal Gallery; opening reception 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 5; free;
• Dec. 7: WT Chamber Singers; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• Dec. 8: Music of the Christmas Season: “Walking in the Air,” featuring WT Symphony Orchestra, Choirs and Dance; 4 and 7 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall;
• Jan. 21 to March 7: WT Art faculty exhibition; Dord Fitz Formal Gallery; opening reception 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 6; free;
• Jan. 24: WT Opera Gala honoring Mila Gibson; location TBD; tickets $100 each, $1,000 for tables
• Jan. 28: Faculty Grand Recital; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• Feb. 6 to 16: “Artemisia” theatre performance; 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6 to 8 and Feb. 13 to 15 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 9 and 16; Happy State Bank Studio Theatre; tickets $12 adults, $8 seniors and students, free for WT students, faculty and staff with Buff Gold Card;
• Feb. 6: “Illumination” by WT Dance; 7 p.m.; Legacy Hall; open to members of The Arts at WT subscription series;
• Feb. 20: Saxophone Studio; 7:30 p.m.; Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex Recital Hall; free;
• Feb. 21: Harrington String Quartet; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall;
• Feb. 22: WT Symphony Orchestra’s “Music of America”; 7:30 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• Feb. 28: Grace Hamilton Piano Festival featuring 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 mural painting and public art; 6 p.m.; location TBD; open to members of The Arts at WT subscription series;
• March 24 to April 26: Guest art exhibition by Nishiki Sugawara-Beda; Dord Fitz Formal Gallery; opening reception 5 to 7 p.m. April 3; free;
• March 29 and 30: “Albert Herring” opera performance with Chamber Music Amarillo, Harrington String Quartet and conductor George Jackson; 7:30 p.m. March 29 and 2:30 p.m. March 30; Northen Recital Hall; tickets $20;
• April 3 to 6: “Portraits of Dance” dance performance; 7:30 p.m. April 3 to 5 and 2:30 p.m. April 6; Branding Iron Theatre; tickets $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;
• April 6: Mozart’s Requiem featuring 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;
• April 11: “Words and Movement” project; 3 p.m.; Happy State Bank Studio Theatre; free;
• April 13: Faculty Brass Quintet; 6 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• April 24 to May 4: “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” musical theatre performance; 7:30 p.m. April 24 to 26 and May 1 to 3 and 2:30 p.m. May 4; Branding Iron Theatre; tickets $16 adults, $12 seniors and students, free for WT students, faculty and staff with Buff Gold Card;
• April 27: Harrington String Quartet; 3 p.m. Northen Recital Hall;
• April 27: World Music Festival; 5 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• May 1 to 24: Spring Bachelor of Fine Arts exhibition; Dord Fitz Formal Gallery; opening reception 5 to 7 p.m. May 1; 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 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• May 7: WT Concert and Symphonic Bands; 6 and 8 p.m.; Northen Recital Hall; free;
• May 9: WT Dance Choreographers’ Showcase; 5 p.m.; venue TBD; free.

For information or tickets for School of Music performances, call 806-651-2780 or visit wtamu.edu/music. For information or tickets for opera performances, call 806-651-2780 or visit wtamu.edu/opera. For information or tickets for 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 for art exhibitions, email jrevett@wtamu.edu.

For information or tickets for theater performances, call 806-651-2810, email artsboxoffice@wtamu.edu or visit wtamu.edu/theatre. For information or tickets for dance performances, call 806-651-2810, email artsboxoffice@wtamu.edu or visit wtamu.edu/dance.

About West Texas A&M University

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

—WT—