Captions..............
Instrumental Roles “Stravinsky [L’Histoire] is very difficult to conduct, rhythmically and with its meter changes,” says Zerkle. “It wasn’t an easy endeavor but Robbie kept with it. I’ve never seen anyone study score harder. Our music program offers flexibility for motivated students like Robbie to try something like this. He had the full support of the department.” Neil Wetzel, director of jazz studies and Brown’s academic advisor, also was key to Brown’s development. “I love that guy,” says Brown. “He opened my eyes to what lies behind the notes on the page and he made me think like a musician—not just as an instrumentalist. Suddenly I was practicing because I was enjoying making music, not just because I was being told to practice.” Brown began studying saxophone with Wetzel as a sophomore in high school through the Moravian College Music Institute (the Music Department’s community outreach program for non-college students), and also attended MCMI’s Summer Jazz Camp. “Robbie’s experience shows how our music and outreach programs support each other and benefit young musicians,” says Wetzel. “I’m proud of the way
SPRING 2011
Photos by john kish iv
of faculty members, students, family members, and friends. At the conclusion of the 75-minute performance, the audience rose, filling the hall with applause in appreciation for Brown and company.
our pre-college programs serve to recruit and retain excellent students like Robbie.” What’s next for Brown? Teaching and leading an orchestra, of course. “As a music education major, I do want to teach,” he says. “But I have little doubt that if I work hard, I can accomplish a lot in ten years. Whether it is for a youth, community, chamber, opera, high school, or college orchestra, or for an orchestra I’ve created myself, I want to be conducting. Conducting is not a power trip. For me, it’s being able to do something you really love—making music with friends.” At Moravian you can do that, he adds with a smile. W Advised by music professor Paula Zerkle (p. 14), Robert Brown ’11 fine-tunes his conducting technique. Above: Brown and friends receive a standing ovation for Brown’s production of The Soldier’s Tale. Violinist Cody Anne Lutz ’11 (top, left) played a starring role.
MORAVIAN COLLEGE MAGAZINE
15