Brendan Townsend, New BSO Music Director

At the podium on October 14th for the opening concert of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra's 39th season will be Irish born conductor, Brendan Townsend. Mr. Townsend has assumed the responsibilities of Music Director as part of his duties as Visiting Assistant Professor of Muisc At Tennessee Tech.

Mr. Townsend came to Cookeville from San Antonio where he was praised in the San Antonio Express-News for his Ahigh energy and theatrical sensibility. He studied conducting, cello, chamber music and choral singing in his hometown of Cork, Ireland, as well as in Essen, Germany, and at the Conservatorium voor Muziek in Maastricht, the Netherlands. His unique conducting style earned him recognition as a finalist in the 1998 Kirill Kondrashin International Competition for Young Conductors and at the American Symphony Orchestra League Donald Thulean Workshop for Young Conductors in 2000. After his professional symphonic debut in 1994 with the Netherlands Promenade Orchestra, Mr. Townsend was appointed as its Associate Conductor. Later, as Music Director with two Dutch chamber orchestras, he developed a reputation as an orchestra builder and creator of exciting orchestral programs. In September 1997 Mr. Townsend was named Music Director of the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio because of this reputation and his singular conducting style. In August of 2000, he was appointed as the Director of Orchestras at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.

Having grown up in a family of musicians, Mr. Townsend has maintained an active career as a cellist. His first recital in Cookeville will be presented on November 15th. A program of chamber music for cello and piano will be performed with Herman and Catherine Godes.

In welcoming Mr. Townsend to the University, Arthur LaBar, Interim Chair of the Department of Music and Art at Tennessee Tech, described Mr. Townsend as an Aaccomplished musician and a charismatic leader with infectious energy for his work. The Bryan Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors joins Mr. LaBar in welcoming Brendan Townsend to Cookeville and looks forward his leadership in continuing the role of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra as a vital part of the cultural life of the Upper Cumberland.

THE CONDUCTOR'S NOTES

I, like everyone was shocked and horrified by the events that occured on September 11, 2001. All of us continued to live our daily lives, understanding that the word Anormal@ had changed forever. Then I went to church on Sunday and as I joined with the choir and congregation in singing I was moved to tears as the depth of my emotions were brought forth and manifest. As the choir sang the Ave Verum Corpus of Mozart the floodwaters of tears could be dammed no more. But these were cleansing tears, allowing my emotions to be washed through, and helping me personally to finally come to grips with the human tragedy. (Perhaps I should say here that I knew no one personally who perished- rather I was aching for my adopted country, just like everyone else.)

What is it about music that can bring forth such emotion? Why is it that almost a week after that terrible day a piece of music can reduce me to tears? We all know that one piece that reminds us of a loved one / a happy day / a sad occasion / a feeling. How often have we held our collective breath at the end of a particulary inspiring performance and waited for the emotion to evaporate before we could applaud?

Live musical performance has a way of touching the depths of our souls as I believe no other art form can. The collaboration of the composer's creative genius and the performer who brings those dots to life brings with it an ability to reach out and bring joy / sadness / relief / inspiration to all who hear it.

As we begin this 39th season of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra I can assure you that there will be plenty of music to inspire and uplift you. I hope that through the medium of our music you too can find comfort and healing, and that together we will all be inspired by the genius of the masters we perform. -Brendan Townsend

News from the Association

The next morning, get your golf shoes brushed off and head to TTU for the BSO Hole-in-One Contest. Test your golfing skills with a chance to win a cash prize of $100,000 or a 2002 Ford Explorer. This should be fun for everyone. Sunday then arrives with a very special concert featuring our own Dr. Roger Martin playing the Liebermann Flute Concerto with Mr. Townsend at the podium. It should prove a great week-end all around.

The weekend will also see our long-standing traditions of the Preview Luncheon and post-concert reception, along with all the other activities. Have you ever asked yourself how we manage to have so many great events for you to attend and enjoy? Well, it takes hours and weeks and months to make all these things happen, and many individuals' time and talents. Often we're spread very thin with the bulk of the work being handled by just a few. But just offering a few hours of your time can make all the difference in the world to the quality and continuation of this wonderful gem we have right here in our community, the Bryan Symphony Orchestra. Please say yes when a committee chairman asks for your help. The duties are many that need to be done, but they can be short and fun for all if many are the numbers doing them.

The Bryan Symphony Orchestra Association (BSOA) has been committed to continuing the hard-working efforts of the former Symphony Guild and all it=s many members who gave so much for so many years. The best way to show that appreciation is to continue this long tradition of support by volunteering, and becoming a BSOA member.

Jan Tate and Brenda Smith
Co-Chairs
Bryan Symphony Orchestra Association

News from the President

Dan Maxwell
President, BSO Board of Directors