James Allen Anderson is the
new director of the Symphony Orchestra.
The Miriam Cannon Hayes School
of Music appointed James Allen Anderson as the new director of the
Appalachian Symphony Orchestra this fall.
Anderson is an excellent musician and is knowledgeable in leading
student ensembles, said Dr. William G. Harbinson, dean of the School
of Music.
“He knows how to treat [students] with respect and still be
demanding,” Harbinson said.
Anderson received his instruction in conducting and piano at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and at Eastman School
of Music in Rochester, N.Y.
Anderson previously
served as the director of orchestral activities at the University
of Montana, as well as the music director and conductor of the Butte
(Mont.) Symphony Association.
The Appalachian Symphony Orchestra is a primary
ensemble in the school of music, Harbinson said.
“Every good music [program] has a good orchestra,”
Harbinson said. Music schools are often judged by the success of
their orchestras because of their importance to student instruction.
The orchestra is made up of about 70 musicians,
representing all orchestral instruments. Seats in the orchestra
are primarily held by music majors but also contain students from
many of the departments at Appalachian State, Anderson said.
Though seats in the wind, brass and percussion
sections are available primarily to music majors, Anderson said
he is opening seats in the string section to students outside the
School of Music.
“We are large enough to perform a wide variety
of music,” Anderson said. “The orchestral repertoire available
to us spans over 400 years of music.”
Anderson said he is interested in helping the
orchestra work with other programs on campus to feature the artwork
and talent of students at Appalachian State.
“I’m really interested in forming a
collaboration with other departments on campus,” Anderson said.
Anderson said he is focused on recruiting to
increase the size of the orchestra.
“My goal is to double the size of the string
section,” Anderson said. String players are more difficult
to find than for any other section in the orchestra.
String instruments are not as widely played as
other orchestral instruments in today’s society, said cello
professor Dr. Kenneth P. Lurie.
Though string players are few, Lurie said the
School of Music has been successful in procuring talented musicians
who play stringed instruments.
Anderson said he encourages students interested
in playing with the orchestra to contact him through the School
of Music.
Auditions are conducted at the beginning of every
semester, he said.
Anderson said he is thrilled with the music program
at Appalachian State because of its exceptional students, faculty
and facilities.
“[The school of music is] a strong program,
and it’s getting even better,” Anderson said. “I
really see this program becoming an important music school in this
country.”
In addition to his role with the orchestra, Anderson teaches music
theory and aural skills classes.
