Brady Bookout plans vocal recital March 18

Po-Hi senior Brady Bookout will perform his vocal recital at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 18. A reception to follow.

The public is encouraged and welcome to attend the recital at First United Methodist Church, 200 East Central in Ponca City.

Bookout will be accompanied by his private voice and piano teacher, Leslie Rardin. He has studied with Rardin for the past 10 years.

The recital will include both art songs and music theatre numbers.

His sisters, Madison, Anna and Bethany Bookout will sing with him also. Steve and Regina Bookout are his proud parents.

Bookout has a rich history of music performance and participation. He has been a member of the choirs and hand bell choirs at First United Methodist Church for 14 years. He was a member of the Community Choir for the Meet the Composer Concert series sponsored by First United Methodist Church for three years.

Bookout is a three-year member of the Po-Hi Chorale where he is currently the tenor section leader. His director is Chad Keilman.

He auditioned and was accepted as a member of the OMEA All-State Mixed Choir. Additionally, he has earned Superior ratings at OSSAA District and State Competitions.

He has performed and competed for the Federated Music Association District and State competitions for eight years. He has performed in Art Song and Music Theatre categories as a soloist and in duets.

For eight years he earned Superior ratings and won his categories at District and State levels. He recently auditioned and won a college vocal scholarship from the Ponca City Federated Music Club.

Bookout is also an accomplished instrumentalist. He is currently a member of the Ponca City High School Big Blue Marching Band and Symphonic Band under the direction of David Christy and Symphonic Orchestra under the director of Dan Larson. He plays the French Horn and Mellophone and he has been selected as the Section Leader for the past two years.

He is the current Band Council President and was Band Council Vice President his Junior Year. He has attended the NOC Honor Band and Red Carpet Honor Band for the past six years. At the NOC Honor Band, he was Section Leader of the Horn section for two years and was selected as Best Brass for one year. Additionally, he has earned Superior ratings in solos and ensembles at OSSAA District Competitions.

Bookout has been active in theatre for many years. He has been in productions at the Poncan Theatre, the Ponca Playhouse, and for the Evans Children’s Academy of Performing Arts. Some of his memorable roles include Mr. Mayor in Seussical the Musical Jr., Frederick in Pirates of Penzance, Billy in On Golden Pond, and Young Walt in The Broken Statue.

Bookout was accepted with a vocal and instrumental scholarship to Emporia State University in the fall, where he will be pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education.