Concerto-Aria Competition Winners for 2023-2024

Penelope (Poppy) Teague is a sophomore vocal performance major at Abilene Christian University. Poppy has performed three leading roles with the ACU Opera: Julie Jordan in Rodger and Hammerstein's Carousel, Amahl in Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Cendrillon in Massenet’s Cendrillon. She has also been an ACU A Cappella Choir member since her freshman year.

While at ACU, Ms. Teague has won several regional, national, and international competitions. including second-place finalist in the Texoma region category for first-year treble singers, and the sweepstakes winner of the Enkor International Voice competition. In 2023, Ms. Teague was named the best freshman-sophomore treble singer in the national NATS competition, and won 1st place in the Texoma regional NATS second-year treble division.

Poppy holds a position as a choral scholar at the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest and serves with the Highland Church of Christ team at BOBS (Breakfast on Beech Street charity) as a performer. Before college, Poppy played her banjo on street corners and spent a decade performing with Courtyard Theatre, a non-profit theatre organization based in Tulsa, OK, where Poppy grew up. Poppy studies voice at ACU with Dr. Rick Piersall.

On the April 11th concert Poppy will perform Tornami a vagheggiar (Turn to me with longing) from the opera Alcina by George Frideric Handel.

Born in Panama City, FL, William Marshall is currently a sophomore at McMurry University after finishing high school at Abilene High School. William is the Principal Trumpet of the Civic Orchestra of Abilene, Principal Trumpet of the McMurry University Wind Ensemble, Lead Trumpet in the McMurry University Jazz Ensemble, and he is a member of the Celebration Orchestra at First Baptist Church.

He previously performed as Co-Principal Trumpet for the Abilene Youth Orchestra, as a member of the Region 6 Symphonic Band, and as a qualifier for the Region 6 Jazz Ensemble. Will competed at the UIL State Solo and Ensemble competition in both 2021 and 2022. He recently collaborated in two world premiere performances: Dawn of a Generation by Adam Miller (performed and recorded with McMurry and HSU faculty) and Bernard Scherr’s Nocturne for Trumpet Quartet.

Will is pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education with Instrumental Emphasis at McMurry University and he studies with Dr. David Amlung.

On the April 11th concert William will perform the Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra by Alexander Arutiunian.

Carly Sanaa Coleman is currently a sophomore at Abilene Christian University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Originally from Mansfield, Texas, Carly graduated from Lake Ridge High School where she qualified for the All-Region 5 Bands from 2020-22. During the 2021-22 season, she was a member of the TMEA Area B Band and All-Region Orchestra. Carly was also principal oboist of the Ft. Worth Youth Orchestra Philharmonic in the 21-22 season. During that time, she won the FWYO philharmonic concerto competition performing the first movement of the Concerto in A Minor for Oboe & Strings, by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Additionally, she was the 2nd prize winner of the 2022 Alan Wilbourne Young Artists Solo Competition.

Carly has also performed with the Big Spring Symphony Orchestra, and is currently principal oboist of the Civic Orchestra of Abilene and the ACU Wind Ensemble. She studied under the guidance of Jane Owen, former assistant principal oboist of the Fort Worth Symphony, for 6 years and is now the student of Susetta Rockett at ACU.

On the April 11th concert Carly will perform the Oboe Concerto in One Movement, Op. 45 by Eugene Goossens.