Music has been a part of Tech since the institution was founded in 1915, but it wasn’t until 1948 that an official music department was established. More than 60 years later students continue to enjoy a wide variety of entertainment. Tech is home to several ensembles including the Bryan Symphony Orchestra, The University Orchestra, TTU Concert Band, and TTU Symphony Band. The University Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m on Tuesday, April 13.
The TTU Symphony Band and Concert Band will perform a joint concert at 7:30p.m. on Friday, April 23.
The Bryan Symphony Orchestra will perform two more times this semester, once at 3 p.m. on March 21 and again at 3 p.m. on April 18. For BSO tickets call 931-525-2633 or visit http://www.bryansymphony.org.
All performances are in Wattenbarger Auditorium of the Bryan Fine Arts Building.
The music department is a busy place. With so many concerts it can be difficult to determine what concert is right for you.
The BSO consists of members of the community, Tech professors, and a select number of Tech students who audition.
“Playing next to their mentors is a great honor for most students” said Arthur Labar, director of the Music and Art Department.
The BSO performs five subscription concerts, one free outdoor concert, and a free children’s concert for all Putnam County 4th graders.
“The Bryan Symphony Orchestra is a professional and more formal concert situation, but it is open to students” Daniel Allcott said. “We have discounted student tickets which are even available the day of the concert. Many students who attend are surprised by the quality of the orchestra.”
The final concert of the year with the Bryan Symphony on April 18 will feature the return of a major artist, the pianist Di Wu.
“For anyone who ever took a piano lesson, this will be a treat,” Allcott said. “She is glamorous, fun, and a phenomenal pianist.”
The University Orchestra is open to all students that have experience playing a stringed instrument. The orchestra is an ensemble class, MUS 1080, and performs several concerts each academic year.
“University Orchestra is a great chance to see your peers perform great literature written from 1750 or so, to the present,” Allcott said. “Last semester we featured a living composer who had written a work specifically for us – a world premier event that we taped for future Television broadcast. We invited the audience to sit on-stage, MTV un-plugged style, and had the composer introduce each piece.”
The TTU Concert Band and TTU Symphony Band each offer something different. The Concert Band is comprised of music majors and non-majors and provides an opportunity for students to be a part of a Band which performs twice during the spring. The Symphony Band is the principal concert ensemble and has performed for state, regional, and national conventions of the Music Educators National Conference and the College Band Directors National Association.
