Texas A&M University Department of Music Activities Director Dr. Timothy Rhea will take the stage with the Texas A&M Wind Symphony to celebrate his 25-year legacy of musical involvement with Texas A&M University’s Department of Music Activities Sunday, April 22, at 3 p.m. in Rudder Theatre.
The concert will feature the world premiere of “Across the Isle of Skye,” a composition by Rhea’s longtime friend and colleague Julie Giroux. She based the piece on Scottish themes after researching and tracing the name “Rhea” back to Scotland.
It also features “Pines of Rome,” a four-movement tone poem for orchestra written by Italian composer Ottorino Respighi in 1924. The piece, which depicts pine trees in four locations in Rome at different times of the day, is the second of Respighi’s trilogy of tone poems based on the city. The Wind Symphony will also perform works by Paul Hindesmith, Joseph John Richards, Roland Forest Seitz, Arthur Sullivan, and Frank Ticheli.
Texas A&M Music Activities Center Groundbreaking Attracts Community Of Supporters
Texas A&M bands, choirs, and orchestras are comprised exclusively of students who have a passion for music. While Texas A&M does not offer a music degree program, students from a variety of majors and interests come together through the Division of Student Affairs’ Department of Music Activities to share their passion for music.
“Dr. Rhea is a fantastic musician and conductor,” said saxophone player Ben Johnson ’18. “He treats the wind symphony exactly as he would treat a group of performance majors or professional musicians, pushing us to play at a level that is above and beyond what most people would expect from college students.”
With Rhea conducting, the Wind Symphony has devoted countless hours to practicing and perfecting this concert, including a special three-day campus visit by Giroux, during which she taught the students her composition.
“It is so enjoyable to work with these Texas A&M student musicians,” Rhea said. “I am fortunate to have this opportunity to work with many different musical groups, and there is always a special connection with my students.”
About the Department of Music Activities
The Department of Music Activities provides opportunities to student musicians to perform on local, national and international platforms. Home to the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, University Concert Bands, Century Singers, University Orchestras, Women’s Chorus, University Jazz ensembles, and the Texas A&M Singing Cadets, the department offers courses in band, choir and orchestra to students who wish to continue their musical experience at the university.
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Media contact: Susan Haven, 979-845-3529, shaven@tamu.edu, or Sondra White, 979-458-3296 or 574-3111, sondra@tamu.edu.
