TAMIU Orchestra Set to Perform April 25

The Texas A&M International University Orchestra will present its second concert of the year on Sunday, April 25 at 4 p.m. in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Brendan Townsend, assistant professor and Orchestra director, explained the TAMIU Orchestra is made up entirely of TAMIU students.

"We currently have 25 registered students and a few who are attending other classes but volunteer to be a part of the orchestra," Townsend said, "We actively encourage anyone who has been a part of their orchestral program in high school and wants to continue to play to come and join the orchestra while attending TAMIU."

He said the works to be performed were selected to be both familiar and yet exciting.

"The program includes Mozart's 'Marriage of Figaro' Overture, which many will remember as the background music from the movie 'Trading Places', the tumultuous Coriolan Overture of Beethoven, Bach Concerto in D minor for Oboe and Violin, featuring soloists Hector Pedraza and Ismael Borrego, and will conclude with Strauss' ever popular 'Blue Danube Waltz,'" said Townsend.

The TAMIU Orchestra was officially founded this past Fall with the arrival of Townsend, who holds a joint faculty position at TAMIU and Laredo Community College. His services are also shared as the Music Director of the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra.

"Yes, of course it is hectic juggling all these orchestras," Townsend said, "But how often do you get to contribute to the growth of a city like Laredo by conducting orchestras at so many different levels?"

For more information, please contact 326.3039.

University office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu