By Emily Durnin
Staff Writer

Picture yourself sitting in a dimmed theater, the dark stage before you. As the lights come up, you hear the soft, sweet sounds of violins, followed by the harmony of the woodwinds. Gradually, the drums join in, and you jump a little at the sudden, staccato entrance of the trumpets.

After more than 20 years of bringing audiences this excitement, Dr. Thomas Osborn will direct his final performance of the Pepperdine University orchestra April 10 at 7:30 p.m. And according to musicians in the group, audiences are in for a treat.

Instead of traditional symphonic pieces, Osborn chose a more lighthearted selection for his last concert. The orchestra will be playing three different pieces including “Symphony No. 4”  by Antonin Dvorak, “Fantasy on Japanese Wood Prints” by Alan Hovhaness and “Latin American Symphonette” by Morton Gould. These works are more modern and upbeat than traditional concert material.

This concert will also be the last for some of the orchestra’s performers. Members of the Malibu community who make up a portion of the university orchestra will no longer be a part of the program as of fall 2002.

Next year, the performance group will be turned into a more student-oriented program to encourage more instrumental music majors. Currently, only nine students overall are listed as majoring in instrumental music.

Students who have played under the direction of Osborn are disappointed to see him go.

“Dr. Osborn is a very enthusiastic and encouraging conductor who has done so much for my own personal growth as a musician,” said Austin Trujillo, first chair violinist. “He has provided me with the much-needed encouragement to continue to pursue a musical career.”

On April 16 at 7:30 p.m., the student Concert Choir and the faculty/staff University Chorale premiere their rendition of Beethoven’s “Mass in C” and “Choral Fantasy”in Smothers Theatre. Choral director Milton Pullen will lead the 118-member ensemble with soloists on each work.

“The ‘Mass in C’ is a truly beautiful and meaningful piece of music,” Downs said. “Beethoven had a great ability of writing extremely passionate music. Incorporating that into the traditional mass makes this particular piece a true work of art and a joy to perform.”

The group performed “Choral Fantasy” last year, but Pullen brought it back by request. This work, also written by Beethoven, follows the theme of his ninth symphony, “Ode to Joy.” Pepperdine graduate Kerill Gliadovsky will accompany the ensemble on piano.

The performers have practiced about four hours a week on these selections since the beginning of the term.

“At the beginning of this semester I assured the choir of what I thought would be a leisurely semester. Was I ever wrong!” Pullen said. “After the start of the semester the choir was asked to sing for the associates dinner. Added to our list of programs were the Easter Convocation and ‘Choral Fantasy.’ Our rehearsals have become more intense and the choir has responded.

“Never in all my years have I enjoyed working with a choir as much as this one,” Pullen continued.

The annual MasterWorks concert is always a hit with student, faculty and staff.

“I’ve really enjoyed the choral performances with Milt Pullen directing.” said David Livingston, an administrative assistant in the Registrar’s office. “The sound produced by the students is amazing. It’s just a wonderful experience to hear the chorus perform. It lifts my soul.”

Tickets are available from the Smothers Theatre box office. Admission is free for students and staff.

April 04, 2002