Exponent Spotlight: MSU Symphony Orchestra

When music is discussed at MSU, the Spirit of the West is the first thing that comes to mind for many students. But there’s another group slinging beats and crafting symphonies that flies under the radar– the MSU Symphony Orchestra. And it’s open to every student on campus. Recently, it performed its first concerts for this semester on Wednesday, Oct. 12 in Missoula and Helena.

The orchestra, also known as Orchestral Studies, is one of MSU’s musical education courses. Like a typical class, the symphony meets twice weekly, practicing for two hours each session.

According to Tobin Stewart, the conductor of the symphony, “the class is different from other classes because the credits and the hours don’t line up. It’s a one-credit class, and we meet for four hours weekly.”

Stewart said many of the people in the orchestra are not even majoring in music. “Only about a third of the students in the orchestra are music majors,” he said. “Most of the group are non-majors that just love to play their instrument.”

Stewart said that the students have to love playing in the symphony because their effort is not reflected in what they receive from it credit-wise. Practicing and playing take “way more time than the credit they get, and it’s way more effort than the credit they get.”

Although the players love what they do and have fun, playing in the orchestra is hard work — and keeping up with it takes hours of outside practice.

Lenny Triem, a sophomore double majoring in Microbiology and Music Studies, has been honing his skills in orchestra for years.

Triem has been playing cello with the orchestra since his freshman year. He said that he plans to study for five years at MSU and hopes to play again in the symphony every year, despite not gaining any additional credits for his major past his third year.

Triem said that the class’s atmosphere is amicable and credited the group for helping him build relationships. “A lot of my best friends I’ve met through the orchestra,” he said.

To join the Symphony Orchestra, musicians need to audition. Auditions are typically held at the beginning of the fall semester. However, if you are interested in joining the symphony for the upcoming Spring 2023 semester, contact Stewart to schedule an individual audition.

Triem said that anyone planning on auditioning should look at the audition material in advance and practice, but most importantly, students should try their best. “Just go there and apply; you’ll likely be able to play with the orchestra.”

To hear what they’ve been working on, check out the Orchestra Symphony's next upcoming performance — the Noel Concert with the Choirs in Holy Rosary Catholic Church, on Friday, Dec. 2.