To hear comments from attendees at the 2008 Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting, the performance by the Hardin-Simmons University choir and orchestra was an extraordinary experience. Dr. Clell Wright, who directed the ensemble, said, "The audience responded with a standing ovation, something unusual at the convention. Following our performance Dr. Randel Everett, executive director and CEO of the BGCT started to speak, but had to back away from the microphone because of the continued applause. It was several minutes before he was able to continue."

HSU Provost, Dr. Bill Ellis, said, "Numerous people stopped to tell me how impressed they were with the singing, the orchestra, and the musical selections. A long-time Baylor administrator and his wife told me they had never heard a better performance in all their years of attending the BGCT."

Dr. Wright, assistant director of church music, said, "The performance truly came from the heart. You could see it on their faces--they really connected to the text and the music, and it showed in their playing and singing." The ensemble performed two arrangements by Mack Wilburg, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing and Love Divine," and "All Loves Excelling."

I'm very proud of our students," said Dr. Wright, "I believe we represented ourselves and the university well at the convention. My hope is that those in attendance will see the strong commitment to musical excellence we have here."

We invite you to share the experience by watching the videos at these links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoronNmoG1M and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJPgvfVtoxw