COOKEVILLE, Tenn — Freshman Tennessee Tech music performance major Tannen Trees of Harvest, Alabama, is the winner of the 2022 Joan Derryberry Memorial Concerto Competition. He will perform with the Bryan Symphony Orchestra this Sunday, Feb. 19, at 3 p.m. at Wattenbarger Auditorium inside Tech’s Bryan Fine Arts Building.
The competition, named after former Tech First Lady Joan Derryberry, requires students to play their choice of concerto on their major instrument. The contest is judged by independent jurors, and each year’s winner receives a scholarship and the chance to play their concerto during a live concert with the Bryan Symphony Orchestra.
Trees won the competition by performing “Sonata for Tenor Trombone and Piano” by Eric Ewazen.
“To be honest, I was super surprised,” Trees said. “This was my first year competing in Derryberry, and all of the students competing this year were fantastic. It was a pleasure to listen to everyone's performances, and to compete myself, with students at such a high musical level. When I heard that I won I was in disbelief, but very excited at the same time. Getting to perform my piece with an orchestra of this caliber is a dream come true, and an experience I will never forget.”
Trees is studying under Joshua Hauser, a professor in the School of Music at Tech. He has played trombone during the 2022-2023 academic year for the Bryan Symphony Orchestra and also plays in Tech’s Symphony Orchestra, the Troubadores Jazz Ensemble, Tech Trombone Choir and Pep Band, and in a Tech student-led jazz combo. He also plays trombone and guest conducts his arranged pieces in the student-led Huntsville Trombone Choir in his home state.
“I am incredibly proud of Tannen and all he has accomplished as a trombonist and a musician,” Hauser said. “He is among the most talented students I have ever worked with but is not content to simply coast on his talent. He sets an example for the entire studio as to how hard work and paying close attention to what you are doing in practice sessions can benefit you as an overall musician.”
Trees also earned a seat in the Alabama Bandmasters Association Allstate Band Competition in 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021. He earned a seat in the Alabama District 1 Honor Band each year from 2016-2021 and Principle Trombone in the Huntsville Youth Symphony from 2019-2020. He also arranges and records music in his leisure time and uploads his performances to his YouTube channel entitled “Lonely Tree Music.”
The Bryan Symphony Orchestra got its start in 1963 and was named for Charles Faulkner Bryan, a former chairman of the music program at Tech. The orchestra’s mission is to engage, education and enrich the community through live music performances, free music education opportunities and scholarships and awards to outstanding musicians.
“Tannen is a wonderful student to have here at Tech,” Hauser added. “He is respectful of everyone’s strengths and works well with everyone to help bring together the best possible performances. He is well deserving of this opportunity to perform with the BSO and I look forward to this concert and to seeing what the future will hold for him.”
Tickets for Sunday’s concert can be purchased at: http://www.bryansymphony.org/.
Harvest native to perform with Tenn. symphony orchestra
Tannen Trees of Harvest was named winner of the 2022 Joan Derryberry Memorial Concerto Competition.