TIER 1 FACULTY

chool of Music faculty who lead by example

PAUL MILLETTE, Lecturer of Percussion – UTSA School of Music had plenty of representation at the 2023 TMEA Convention/Clinic from faculty and students. Among the standouts from the largest music education convention in the nation was percussion faculty member Paul Millette

Millette’s work as a composer was highlighted at TMEA when his piece “Joy Variations” was performed by the UTSA Percussion Ensemble. The work was commissioned for the ensemble by Sherry Rubins and premiered in November 2022. According to Millette, the piece’s meaning, derived from experiences coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, did not take shape until later in the composition

“The meaning for the piece came when I was close to being done with it...In a time where we felt so little happiness and motivation ..Joy Variations is that feeling of being able to finally experience fulfillment and joy, and being able to experience creativity coming out of the pandemic,” said Millette.

Printed copies of his marimba quartet Scatterbrain (published in 2019) were also displayed for sale on the convention floor. It was originally composed in 2016 and premiered in 2017 by the Indiana University Percussion Ensemble while Millette was a student there. In Paul's words, the premise behind the piece was “to showcase as many parts of the marimba as possible.”

S. ANDREW LOYD, Bess Hieronymus Endowed Fellow, Assistant Professor of Organ – UTSA composition and organ professor Dr. S. Andrew Lloyd has been known to have his works performed and give performances worldwide. On December 14, 2022, Dr. Lloyd traveled to Panama City, Panama, where he performed at la Iglesia de la Merced as part of the temples concert series.

“It was an incredible opportunity to perform on a historic Spanish instrument and be a part of a burgeoning organ scene in Panama, as many of the churches in the old city are being furnished with organs. I see it as a relationship that will blossom for years to come,” said Lloyd