Faculty and students from Troy University’s John M. Long School of Music served both as performers and supporters during the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra’s performance “Masterworks I: Mahler’s Titan Symphony” on Sept. 29 at the Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts on the University’s Montgomery Campus.
The orchestra included professors Michael Huff on trumpet, Jason Sulliman on bass trombone, and alumna Lindsey Gordon on piccolo. The orchestra performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 34 with Van Cliburn medalist Evern Ozel, Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, and a new work by composer in residence Nkeiru Okoye honoring the resilience of the survivors of 9/11.
Troy University has developed a significant reputation in the realm of wind bands, and students and faculty alike recognize how band music has been heavily influenced by the tradition of the European orchestra. Roughly two dozen students and alums as well as some current music faculty were in attendance supporting live music in the community.
Dr. Hui-Ting Yang, the School of Music Director and Steinway piano artist, was also in attendance.
“We are always eager to connect and engage with our amazing community. Last night’s concert was a wonderful experience for our students, as they had the chance to see a fantastic performance by an internationally acclaimed artist and enjoyed great repertoire,” she said. “It was also a pleasure to see and connect with our TROY music alumni who are now a part of the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra.”
Dr. Sulliman, Associate Professor of Trombone, performed with the orchestra and has noticed a change in culture over the past several years.
“The music of Gustav Mahler is especially significant for brass musicians, and I was thrilled to see so many of our brass students come to the concert,” Dr. Sulliman said. “The concert experience is a special time to celebrate and enjoy great music, and we need both capable performers as well as enthusiastic supporters and audience members to keep it alive. Our students carpooled together, took advantage of student ticket prices, and invested an evening during their busy schedules to support this music and learn from it. I was extremely proud to see TROY students leading the way.”
TROY music faculty can be seen and heard playing in almost all of the orchestras in the region. For more information about live performances at TROY, please visit the John M. Long School of Music’s website.
