(March 8, 2010)

Contact: Rick DelaHaya, Centenary News Services, 318.869.5073

Centenary Music Student Honored at Regional Convention

SHREVEPORT, La. (Centenary News Service) — A music major from Centenary College is one of four students chosen to conduct in a master class at the Southern Division of the American Choral Directors Conference later this week in Memphis, Tenn.

Christine Linschoten, a native of Baton Rouge, was selected by a panel of judges who reviewed videotapes of conducting students from the eleven-state region that comprises the Southern Division of the ACDA, and will conduct in a special master class at the conference Wednesday, March 10.

Linschoten will be joined by the three other winners and conduct a choir made up of eight singers from each of the eleven states in the Southern Division, including three students from Centenary representing the state of Louisiana. They include Peyton Davis from Houston, Texas; Marissa Torrez from Rowlett, Texas; and Ashley Helms from Mesquite, Texas.

She will conduct the choir in "O Magnum Mysterium" by Tomas Luis de Victoria. Master clinicians Dr. Milburn Price, retired from the faculty at Samford, and Dr. Rodney Eichenberger of Florida State University will critique the student conductors in front of an audience of professional choral conductors from the Southern Division.

Linschoten is a conducting student of Dr. Julia Thorn, professor of music and conductor of the College's Camerata, and will graduate later this fall. Saying that Linschoten is truly a gifted conductor, Dr. Thorn knows she will represent Centenary as an outstanding artist on the podium and once again share the distinguished quality of the music program at the Hurley School of Music.

"Throughout my tenure at Centenary I have had many talented students that developed into gifted conductors, but Christine is truly special," said Dr. Thorn. "Her numerous musical skills have contributed greatly to a superior rehearsal technique and her graceful gesture, which we have refined through the three semester conducting sequence, and has established a confidence on the podium that is unique to the undergraduate conductor. I am thrilled for her to have earned the opportunity to conduct in this significant event at ACDA."

Originally a piano major, Linschoten switched to conducting after taking a class in conducting with Dr. Thorn. She credits her, as well as all her professors at Centenary, for helping her grow as a musician over the past few years, culminating with this unique and special opportunity.

"I am very excited about this learning opportunity," said Linschoten. "I think I will learn so much from everyone there and I will be able to show the skills that I have developed over the years. It is going to be quite the experience."

Also in agreement with both Linschoten and Thorn, Dr. Gale Odom knows this opportunity reinforces both the level of instruction she has received at Centenary and her abilities.

"This honor for Christine validates the superb quality of the instruction in conducting she is receiving at Centenary from Dr. Thorn", said Dr. Odom, Dean of the Hurley School of Music and professor of music. "It also gives Christine confidence to begin her professional teaching career next year on the highest note."

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and is regularly rated as one of the top colleges in the South. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in the Shreveport and Bossier City communities.