The Troy University Symphony Band, one of the top tier instrumental concert ensembles within the John M. Long School of Music, held its second concert of the semester on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. in the Claudia Crosby Theater.
The concert spotlighted the talent of students and faculty alike, with featured performances by Tyler Arcari, a Troy alumnus and composer of “Lightning Hammer,” and Marissa Stanfill, a senior music education major from Panama City, Florida, and clarinet soloist of “Premiere Rhapsody” by Claude Debussy.
“It was really good … there weren’t any mistakes,” said Kaitlyn Borsi, a freshman music education major from Biloxi, Mississippi. “They always play so well.”
The pieces were conducted by Director of Bands Mark Walker, with two guest conductors: Larry Bolcher, dean of the College of Communications and Fine Arts, and Rad Bolt, a music education major and current graduate assistant from Panama City, Florida.
The concert served as a world premiere debut of Arcari’s newest piece, “Lightening Hammer.”
“I didn’t know that Tyler Arcari had composed the music we were going to play,” said Ethan Stonecipher, a freshman physics major from Alabaster and a percussion player in the Symphony Band. “We were the first people to play his music; it was so exciting.”
Arcari expressed a great appreciation to both Walker and the band.
“I would like to thank Dr. Mark Walker and the Troy University Symphony Band for performing my piece,” said Arcari. “It’s a great honor and pleasure and as always, I’m a proud alumnus.”
According to Walker, the Troy University Symphony Band is an audition ensemble comprised of 52 wind and percussion players who are expected to work hard and constantly push their limits, an attempt by Walker to bring out the best of each and every member.
“Everybody has a certain degree of musical talent, like the ability to speak or walk; some people have more talent than others, but it can be nurtured and developed by practicing and studying music,” said Walker.
Troy University offers a music education major at the undergraduate and graduate level for both instrumental and choral tracks.
“Music education is important because everybody needs music; it is a part of our life,” said Walker. “In addition to practical parts of music, it allows us to be humans; to feel, to express our emotions and to experience feelings that we find hard to understand.”
For more information regarding upcoming musical performances, visit http://music.troy.edu and click on the “Calendar” link.
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