By Dorian Martin '06

Many students credit travel as being one of the most life-changing opportunities. In the case of Texas A&M’s instrumental groups, the opportunity to represent the university also improves the quality of the performance. Now the Texas A&M Department of Music Activities wants to give students more opportunities to travel through creating an endowment through the Texas A&M Foundation.

The Wind Symphony has chalked up the most mileage among the Aggie instrumental groups. This group has travelled extensively across the United States, but also has completed five European trips over the past 30-year period. Some of the orchestra and concert bands have journeyed to Ireland. “All the students have travelled to some extent, but the wind symphony—because it has the top players—is the one that we sent out most of the time,” said Dr. Timothy Rhea, Texas A&M’s director of bands and music activities.

These 10-day trips are scheduled for May to avoid internships and summer school. The excursions include three to four concerts as well as time to be a tourist. “They are immersed in cultures that are very different than what they are used to,” Rhea said. “We take them to leading sights, but also build in free time. These students are very diverse in their interests and majors; some may be interested in the city’s architecture while others may be interested in the fine arts. They’re very good at researching what is available to them and seeing things that are important to them.”

These trips also lead to a better quality of performance. “It bonds those students together in a way that totally changes those ensembles,” Rhea said. “With the exception of the Aggie Band, all the other groups are just academic classes during the day. They come, do their thing, and leave for other classes. All of a sudden, you put them on a bus or an airplane for a few hours or days, and they get to know each other. They get to really strengthen their friendships—and the closer they are as friends and invested in those connections, the better those groups tend to play. It just takes it to a different level.”

Matthew Hill ’12

Degree: Mechanical Engineering with a Minor in Business Administration
Employed as: Forensic Engineer, Halliwell Engineering Associates in Dallas-Fort Worth
Involvement: Participated in the Wind Symphony throughout his five-year college experience
Instrument: Bass Clarinet

Why I participated in music activities at Texas A&M?
“Music has been a big part of my life since I was a young kid. I grew up playing piano and in high school played multiple instruments. I found a niche as a bass clarinetist because it was a unique instrument that was enjoyable to play. Playing music with a high-level ensemble was something dear to my heart for many years—I didn’t want to let that go when I went to college.”

My Texas A&M music travel experiences
“During my time with the Wind Symphony, I performed in Texas, across the U.S. and abroad. Among our traveling performances were the Texas Music Educators Association clinic in Austin, the Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago, the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, and cultural outreach performances in Venice, Florence, and Rome, Italy.”

How I benefit from music
“Music’s always been one of my emotional releases and a major stress relief for me. I can separate my mind from the rest of the world and the chaos around me and embed myself in music. I find when I’m in a dark place in life or with work, music a lot of times lifts me up—and it always has.”

Intangible gifts music gives
“One of the biggest things that I carried with me from the Wind Symphony was leadership skills. I played as the first chair bass clarinet for all five years. A lot of times the directors would turn to me as an experienced and tenured member of that group to help lead the other students by example.”

Life lessons learned from music
“In a group as small as the Wind Symphony, you have a heightened responsibility to play your part perfectly as an integral part of the bigger picture – the ensemble’s performance. When you have that kind of experience, it leaves a lasting impression on you as a professional, even beyond music. It has the unique ability to teach a person how my individual actions affect the performance and success of not just the group, but the individuals around you.”

Benefits of international travel for the Texas A&M instrumental groups
“As a student with a passion for music, you get to take that passion to another country, experience a different culture and show them how we perceive music. You get to see a different level of appreciation that people of a different country and another culture have for what you’re doing as a collegiate musician. It becomes more of a social and eye-opening exchange that gives students the opportunity to see a culture beyond what we see in the U.S. Beyond the cultural exchange and experience, you take your friendships with your fellow musicians to a whole new level – creating memories that will last a lifetime.”