Sherman, Texas -- The Austin College A Cappella Choir and The Descant will present their final concert of the 2024-25 school year on May 3 in Wynne Chapel, Clifford J. Grum Sanctuary at 3:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Music to be performed includes works by Hassler, Arensky, Mantyjarvi, and Gjeilo. Spirituals include arrangements by Undine Moore, Andre Thomas, William Dawson, and Austin College alumna Erin Krummenacher. Also included on the program will be several pieces inspired by non-Western choral traditions as well as a cappella pop from The Descant.
Director Dr. Wayne Crannell is The Mildred S. Mosher Professor of Music at Austin College, where he has been Director of Choral & Vocal Music since 1995. Before coming to Austin College, Crannell taught at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Simpson College in Iowa. He has been an active soloist for four decades, having sung under and for such conductors as James Levine, Sir Georg Solti, Margaret Hillis, Robert Shaw, Lukas Foss, JoAnn Falletta, and Aaron Copland. Crannell received his M.M. in Choral Conducting from UW-Milwaukee and his D.M.A. in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
