TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — On Monday night, under the direction of Dr. Jerianne Larson, the Troy University Symphonic Band hosted its first concert of the semester at Claudia Crosby Theatre.
The evening featured a diverse and technically demanding program that showcased both the musicians’ versatility and their growth since the start of rehearsals.
The ensemble performed:
- “Shadows” by Henry Dorn
- “Metro Dances” by Travis Weller
- “Suite Française” by Darius Milhaud
- “Into the Silent Land” by Steve Danyew
- “Vulcan” by Michael Daugherty
According to Larson, preparation for the concert required dedication and intentional rehearsal strategies.
“We had about 14 rehearsals to get all of this together,” Larson said. “We prepared by listening to reference recordings of all the pieces, chunking everything, really breaking it apart, and then putting it together so they understand what happens with the music in the little chunks and also in the large context of the piece.”
From the highest woodwind passages to the resonant tones of the low brass, each section played a vital role in creating what many audience members described as a “magical” evening.
One standout moment came during a featured solo by alto saxophonist Julia Smith, who captivated the audience under the stage lights.
“Nerve-racking, but it was also really thrilling just to feel the lights on me and see all the people,” Smith said.
Larson intentionally selected music that pushed the ensemble outside of its comfort zone.
“A lot went really, really well. This is way different music than Symphonic Band is used to working on or has worked on in the past. So I wanted to make sure that in this first concert cycle that we were really challenged.”
With the final note echoing through the theatre, Smith and her fellow musicians left the stage energized and ready to take on whatever musical challenges come next this semester.
The Troy University Symphony Band will continue preparing for future performances as the academic year progresses.
