Album Notes

Shepherd's Trio is a mellow and rich mix of English horn, French horn, and piano. The "Night of Wonder" CD is made of creative arrangements of well known Christmas carols providing an atmosphere of worshipful and joyful Christmas spirit. Printed music for many of the Shepherd's Trio arrangements (with optional parts for oboe, clarinet, flute, bassoon, and cello) are available at Trevco Music. Search in the composer section under "Lanier" at www.trevcomusic.com.

Janet Lanier (English horn) is originally from Ohio where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and played in the Akron and Canton Symphonies. She served in the 74th Army Band in Indianapolis and then moved to Amarillo where she received her Masters in Performance at WTAMU. Janet has played the oboe and English horn for the Amarillo Symphony since 1978 and has been a soloist with both the Amarillo Symphony and Randel Chamber Orchestra. Besides performing with various groups such as the Amarillo Chamber Music Society, Music Makes the Difference, Amarillo Opera, and several local churches, she spends most of her time composing and arranging music. Janet has completed a number of commissioned works including "Valley of Silence" for chorus and orchestra and "Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep" for men's chorus and piano.

David Lanier (French horn) is a native of the Amarillo area and has played in the Amarillo Symphony since 1989. Besides performing in the Randel Chamber Orchestra, Amarillo Opera and Amarillo Chamber Music Society, David frequently plays in several local churches in the area. He holds degrees in Music Theory, Composition and Performance from West Texas A&M University. In addition to his musical talents, David has great expertise with computers and has been a full-time web programmer since 1996. David and Janet have been happily married since 1997.

Dr. Jim Rauscher (piano) has resided in Amarillo since 1981, as Professor of Piano at Amarillo College, where he also serves as chairman of the Music Department. He showed an early affinity for music, and began piano studies at the age of six in his hometown of Medford, Wisconsin. He also studied the trumpet, and entered college as a trumpet major. He holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, and a Ph.D. in Fine Arts degree from Texas Tech University. Jim has been extremely active in the Texas Panhandle as a solo recitalist, accompanist, teacher, and adjudicator. He has been the principal pianist for the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra since 1981, and has appeared as guest soloist with the orchestra during four separate seasons. He has also been the featured soloist with the Randel Chamber Orchestra on several occasions. Jim has presented solo piano recitals frequently at Amarillo College, and has performed at numerous college campuses across the state and for the Texas Music Teachers Association state convention. In 1986, he was named "Music Teacher of the Year" by the Amarillo Music Teachers Association. His students have been frequent winners in area competitions. He and his wife, Vanessa, are the music and choir directors at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Amarillo, and have two children, John and Ann.