"When the tests are done and the semester is over, most students at West Texas A&M University are ready to hit the road for a much-deserved break. But three times a year—May, August and December—one group of students voluntarily puts their break on hold to participate in the University’s commencement exercises as part of the WTAMU Brass Choir.
The WTAMU Brass Choir, directed by Dr. Guglielmo Manfredi, assistant professor of music, has provided the music for each of the University’s three commencement exercises since 2015, and the summer commencement on Aug. 17 will be no exception. Twelve volunteers from the 25-member group will play a commencement repertoire of music that includes the processional, national anthem, alma mater and the recessional as well as a fanfare piece composed by former student, John Stacy, to mark the entrance of Dr. Wade Shaffer, provost and vice president for academic affairs, and the start of the commencement exercises.
“This is an awesome endeavor that these students perform every graduation ceremony,” Johnna Elms, executive secretary in the Office of the Academic Affairs, said. “They do an excellent job.”
The student volunteers perform three times in one day for the spring commencement in May, one time at summer commencement in August and twice for the winter commencement in December. Manfredi has created books of all the commencement music, and the volunteer group rehearses for about an hour in preparation of its commencement appearance.
“It makes for a long day, but the students are always ready to serve the University,” Manfredi said. “Johnna also takes really good care of them and makes them feel appreciated.”
This year’s summer commencement exercises are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17 at the First United Bank Center. A total of 462 students have applied for summer graduation, including 259 undergraduates and 203 graduate students."
-West Texas A&M University
