Several Troy University music faculty members performed at the tenth annual International Music by Women Festival on March 5-7.

Dr. Ben Crook, Assistant Professor of Collaborative Piano; Dr. Kelly Langenberg Bayer, Assistant Professor of Horn; Dr. Traci Mendel, Lecturer of Music Theory, Aural Skills and Composition; Dr. Sarah Wee, Associate Professor of Voice; Dr. Heather Small, Associate Professor of Flute and Dr. Jason Sulliman, Associate Professor of Trombone, travelled to the Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Miss. to join in the celebration of classical music by performing some of the best music written today. The four-day festival draws performers and scholars from all over the world to share with lectures, presentations and recitals for live audiences.

“Conferences like the Music by Women Festival are a great way to learn about the amazing and robust content being created by women-identifying composers”, said Langenberg Bayer, who performed a new work for horn and piano with Cook. 

Crook also performed in a lecture recital with Dr. Heather Small, which analyzed selected flute works by Sofia Gubaidulina, and collaborated with Dr. Sarah Wee in a lecture recital showcasing Dr. Mendel’s setting of poems by Sappho. 

Sulliman, who performed an unaccompanied brass trombone solo written by Mendel, said he is always amazed and inspired by his colleagues.

 “As we push towards Spring Break with classes, exams, conerts, meetings, etc. my colleagues embody the ‘Trojan warrior spirit’ and set a high bar for music faculty all over the country as we find the time to collaborate and give such outstanding performances,” Sulliman said. “We are one of the most well-represented music programs at this international festival, and we show no signs of slowing down!”

You can learn more about the Women in Music Festival here.