Pottle Auditorium resonated with the music of guest artist Staff Sgt. Jonathon Troy. His performance not only entertained, but also provided students with an in-depth musical education experience.
The purpose of the Masterclass is to expose students to various experienced professionals in the musical field and allow them to grow as musicians. It is held approximately twice a semester for different instruments. The Troy Masterclass was held Monday, Jan. 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. and was open to students.
“It is always a great opportunity to perform and meet the young musicians that are our future and work with them a little bit and show some of my knowledge and experience,” said Troy. “It’s a wonderful school and everyone was so nice.”
Dr. Thomas Kmiecik, professor of clarinet, invited Troy, a clarinetist from “The President’s Own” United States Marine Corps. Band.
Troy opened the event with an elegant performance of the classical piece “Tosca Fantasia”, composed by Carlo della Giacoma, accompanied on piano by Dr. Henry Jones, associate professor of piano.
Troy listened to each of the four students who were chosen to perform a piece and then proceeded to instruct and correct each student in various areas such as breathing techniques, sound articulations, resolving ends of musical phrases, dynamics and fingering.
Among the songs performed were pieces by classical composers such as Mozart and Beethoven.
“I enjoyed the fact that I got more time to play and learn directly from SSgt. Troy than usual,” said junior Kristen LeBlanc, a music performance major. “He was able to point out a couple of things that I didn’t realize I was doing and helped me make very stylistic decisions.”
LeBlanc was among the four students who had the privilege of being personally instructed.
The audience consisted almost entirely of music majors several of whom professed to have thoroughly enjoyed the performance and instruction session with Troy.
“Staff Sgt. Troy gave an unbelievable performance tonight and has inspired the whole studio, I’m sure,” said senior Chance Ragan, majoring in music education. “The instruction he gave was beneficial not only to the students he worked with directly, but the audience in its entirety.”
Following the individual instruction, Troy conducted a question and answer period during which he answered a variety of questions which ranged from general topics such as his life as a navy musician to instructional questions such as nailing any type of audition.
“I thought it was a very skilled performance,” said freshman Dorsey Minns, majoring in music performance. “I liked the way he approached the air and the overall technique. It was very professional and very informative and I would like to see another one from him hopefully in the future.”
For more information regarding future clarinet Masterclass sessions contact Kmiecik at thomas.kmiecik@selu.edu.