**For Immediate Release** 2006 OPSU Festival of the Arts -released by OPSU Campus Communications 04/17/06 Goodwell, Okla.- The annual Oklahoma Panhandle State University Festival of the Arts showcases the talent of the students and faculty in the music and art departments. In addition, local talent and guest artists from Oklahoma, Texas and other areas join the OPSU community to celebrate the fine arts in the Panhandle region. This year, the weeklong event will be held April 22-28. The OPSU Jazz Festival will kick off the week on Saturday, April 22 at 4 p.m. in Hughes-Strong Auditorium on the OPSU campus. Feature guest artist, Julius Tolentino, a jazz alto saxophonist from New York, will perform with Jason Berg, OPSU’s Director of Bands, and jazz musicians from Amarillo, Texas. Tolentino’s record “Just the Beginning” was recently released to rave reviews. The OPSU Jazz Band will also perform, playing the music of Thelonious Monk as well as vocal jazz with the OPSU Chamber Singers. The evening will conclude with a jam session where local high school students will join the performers on stage. Admission is $5 for adults and free for those under 18 and students with a valid college ID. On Monday, April 24, at 8 p.m., Festival of the Arts will celebrate Mozart’s 250th birthday with a showing of the film “Amadeus” in Hughes-Strong Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public. The OPSU Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and Concert Band will perform a combined concert on Tuesday, April 25 at 7 p.m. in Hughes-Strong Auditorium. Featured soloist and clarinet virtuoso Sgt. Danielle Turner of the 77th Army Band out of Ft. Sill, will play “Solo de Concours” by Messager with the Concert Band. Turner is an Oklahoma State University graduate and played with the Tulsa Philharmonic. The concert is free and open to the public. On Wednesday, April 26, OPSU is hosting art activities for kids from 3-5:30 p.m. in the Plaza on the OPSU campus. Activities will include sidewalk chalk and finger painting. Also, music faculty Tracey Gregg-Boothby and Berg will perform in the Faculty Recital at 7 p.m. in Hughes-Strong Auditorium, followed by a Raku Firing Demonstration by art instructor Brent Shoulders. All of Wednesday’s events are free and open to the public. The Wild Horse Gallery and Fine Arts Center, located at 421 N. Main Street in Guymon, will host an art show featuring work of the art department faculty on Thursday, April 27. The opening and reception will begin at 7 p.m. The show will include paintings, photography, sculptures, and ceramics by Bryon Test, David Elder, Larry Wiggins, Yvonne Sangster and Brent Shoulders, and the Panhandle Brass will play during the event. Festival of the Arts will conclude on Friday, April 28, with a Hispanic Fiesta featuring Alma Folklórica and Mariachi OPSU. The festivities begin at 7 p.m. at Guymon High School. The Festival of the Arts events are made possible in part by the generous support of the City of Goodwell, the Oklahoma Arts Council, the Guymon Convention and Tourism Board and the Super 8 Motel of Guymon. For more information about any of the Festival of the Arts events, call 580-349-1482 or email tgregg@opsu.edu. -30-