Woven in Song
January 31, 2026
2024-2025 William Gammon Henry Concerto Competition winners
Xiaojing Luo, soprano
Cecil Garrison, tenor
Get swept away by the drama, beauty, and passion of the human voice in this captivating concert filled with powerful orchestral moments, unforgettable melodies & live narration. Whether you’re an opera lover or just curious about the genre, this evening offers something for everyone — from a thrilling new work inspired by Antarctica’s icy landscapes to instantly recognizable tunes that have graced film scores, commercials, and pop culture. Soaring soprano and tenor solos will take center stage, bringing emotional storytelling to life, while the orchestra surrounds you with lush, cinematic sound. This unforgettable concert bridges the familiar beauty of classic opera with the awe-inspiring wonder of earth’s most remote frontier.
ROSSINI: “Overture” from La gazza ladra
MCMICHAEL: Blue Continent: Visions of Antarctica
BIZET: Carmen Suite No.1
WAGNER: “Overture” from Rienzi
WAGNER: “Allmächt’ger Vater” from Rienzi
PUCCINI: “Signore, ascolta!” from Turandot
PUCCINI: “O mio babbino caro” from Gianni Schicchi
MASCAGNI: Cavalleria rusticana – Intermezzo
LEONCAVALLO: “Vesti la giubba” from Pagliacci
DONIZETTI: “O luce di quest’anima” from Linda di Chamounix
PUCCINI: “Nessun Dorma” from Turandot
PUCCINI: “O soave fanciulla” from La bohème
Narrated by Lance Hargis and Darla Diltz
First Baptist Church
1200 9th Street, Wichita Falls
Time: 7:30pm
Xiaojing Luo is a rising soprano currently pursuing the Graduate Artist Certificate at the University of North Texas under the mentorship of Carol Wilson. She holds a Master of Music degree from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Central Conservatory of Music in China, combining rigorous academic training with extensive stage experience.
Luo recently won First Prize in the 2025 William Gammon Henry Concerto Competition and has performed in major venues such as Changsha Concert Hall, as well as at the 30th Anniversary Concert honoring Xianlin Wang. She has presented multiple solo recitals and degree recitals at UNT, Indiana University, and the Central Conservatory of Music, consistently earning acclaim for her expressive musicality and distinctive vocal timbre.
On the opera stage, Luo’s notable roles include Zemfira in Aleko (UNT), Mrs. Johannes “Ma” Zegner in Proving Up (UNT), Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Angelica in Suor Angelica, L’armonia in La contesta canora (Opera Lucca), Pamina in Die Zauberflöte (Lyric Opera of Weimar), and Tisbe in La Cenerentola (Central Conservatory of Music).
Beyond stage productions, Luo has actively participated in masterclasses and collaborative projects with distinguished artists such as Charles Spencer, Davide Dellisanti, and Sherill Milnes. Her performances include appearances at the Puccini 160th Anniversary Concert, the China Chamber Opera Project, and the Lyric Opera of Weimar Concert, among others.
Cecil Garrison, tenor, originally from Farmington, New Mexico, came to Texas to pursue a Master of Music at Southern Methodist University in 2020, and is currently in his fourth year of Doctoral studies at the University of North Texas and is an adjunct professor of voice at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. At those schools, he has played Don José in Carmen, Giles Corey in The Crucible, the Witch in Hänsel und Gretel, and Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus. Besides opera, he has a musical passion for teaching voice, art song, and Barbershop quartet singing.