April 12 concert honors retiring professor Wayne Pegram
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (April 4, 2003) – Tennessee Tech University’s
Symphony Band will be in concert at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 12 — but
the show won’t be just any musical event.
It will honor the 35-year TTU career of music professor Wayne Pegram,
who has announced that he will retire in May. The concert is free and
open to the public.
"Literally hundreds of students have been affected by Pegram’s
influence," said Joe Hermann, TTU Director of Bands.
A TTU alumnus who joined the faculty in 1968, Pegram completed his graduate
studies at the University of Tennessee and the University of Northern
Colorado. He taught high school band classes in Murfreesboro before becoming
TTU’s director of bands, and he served in that capacity until 1984,
when he accepted his current position as Coordinator of Music Education.
"His work in supervising the student teacher program for instrumental
music majors has placed him in a position that not only influenced TTU
students, but the professional lives they would lead and the quality
of music instruction throughout the state and region," Hermann said. "We
all appreciate the work Wayne has done and continues to do."
The concert will consist of some of Pegram’s favorite musical pieces
and some works to which he contributed as a composer and arranger.
"Of course, we will see some fun-loving roasting there, too," Hermann
said.
Among the highlights of the event will be the premiere performance of
TTU graduate Bill Brusick’s "Concerto for Wind Ensemble," composed
specifically for the Tech Symphony Band. "Based on a collection
of Southern hymntunes, the piece is full of life and delightful expression," Hermann
said.
Another concert highlight will be a performance of the alumni wind ensemble
conducted by Pegram.
"The group of ‘old-timers’ will show their stuff with
Wayne on the podium! It should be a great evening," Hermann said.
For more information about the concert, call 931/372-3161.
--Tracey LeFevre
This information posted 08 April 2003