Education Concerts
Since 1976, the Bryan Symphony Orchestra has performed dozens of education concerts for school children in Putnam County. The Bryan Symphony Orchestra Association, pays for all costs associated with the education concerts so that children can attend concerts free of charge.
In 2011, the BSO began offering an additional performance for the fourth-graders of Warren County, home of the BSO's namesake, Charles Faulkner Bryan and in 2016 the Bryan Symphony added yet another concert for the students of Cumberland County to attend. In recent years, we've expanded to include Jackson and White counties, so that each year a total of between 2500 and 3000 students experience live music on Tennessee Tech's campus.
Many students might never have the opportunity to see a live symphony orchestra. The BSOA wants to make sure that is not the case in the Upper Cumberland region!
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The Bryan Symphony Orchestra Association works directly with a public school educator to create lesson plans that involve state curriculum standards including music, history, geography, and more!
Music Education for All
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The Bryan Symphony strives to provide accessible music education to all students in our region. Not only are these free student concerts educational, they are also interactive!
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Scholarships and Opportunities
The BSO administers the Dr. Jerry Bart Ayers Memorial Scholarship for outstanding music students. The award was made in honor of Dr. Jerry Bart Ayers, a long-time faculty member and administrator at TTU whose advocacy of artistic activities included serving on the Bryan Symphony Board of Directors.
The fact that the Bryan Symphony Orchestra is in residence at the University provides a rare opportunity for baccalaureate music students. Every season, select students from each teaching studio are invited to perform alongside their professors and other professional musicians
The Joan Derryberry Competition
A rigorous day-long process, the Joan Derryberry Memorial Concerto Competition requires students to play their choice of concerto on their major instrument, and the contest is judged by independent jurors. The concerto chosen by the winning student is performed on the program of the Bryan Symphony’s February subscription concert.
Along with a scholarship comes an opportunity for the winner to perform a solo with the Bryan Symphony – a rare opportunity for college students anywhere in the country.
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The winner of '23-'24 Joan Derryberry Memorial Concerto Competition, Noah Moore, pictured here with his mentor, Dr. Jeff Womack on his left, and Bryan Symphony Orchestra Music Director Dan Allcott on his right. Noah performed Carl Maria von Weber's Andante and Hungarian Rondo for Bassoon and Orchestra at the February of 2024 concert. Photo credit Dr. D. Gary Moore.
Educational Resources and Videos
Preview Lecture April 21st, 2024
Dan Allcott, Music Director, shares a recorded lecture about the music to be performed at our April 21st, 2024 concert.
Preview Lecture and Playlist March 24th, 2024
Dan Allcott, Music Director, shares a recorded lecture about the music to be performed at our March 24th, 2024 concert. Link to accompanying playlist here.