Indiana State University Newsroom

When Roby George lifts the baton on Friday, Feb. 18, it will be his official debut as Indiana State University's director of bands.

George will lead the Indiana State University Faculty Chamber players and friends, the Indiana State Wind Orchestra and Kazimierz Machala, a horn soloist, in the concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Indianapolis.

"The Scottish Rite Cathedral is an old, beautiful structure in downtown Indianapolis that has wonderful ambiance," George said. "It is a nice setting for such a ‘coming out' party and allows me to introduce myself to the greater central and mid-southwestern portion of the state."

George took over as director of bands from John Boyd, who conducted ISU's Wind Orchestra for 26 years, in the fall.

"The concert is being called a ‘debut' concert because whenever there is a change at the helm of a program after being guided by one person over a long period of time, an official notice of the change is in order," George said.

"This is a valuable opportunity for our wind and percussion musicians, faculty and students alike, to showcase their talents in Indianapolis at an extraordinary venue," said Nancy Cobb Lippens, director of the Indiana State School of Music. "Dr. George brings wonderful energy and enthusiasm, and this will be evident in this concert. The general public as well as alumni and friends will find this a night to remember." 

The program will feature the faculty playing chamber works as well as the Wind Orchestra, the premiere 42-piece ensemble from the School of Music.

"My goal is to present a concert full of variety; something everyone can enjoy," George said. "The program features soloists, a Renaissance work, a nice piece with a tango feeling, one of the standard compositions, a fanfare opener and a nice mixture of modern and contemporary work."

The concert also will feature Machala as a horn soloist. Machala is a former professor of horn at the University of Illinois and will also teach masterclasses and lecture at ISU prior to the concert.

"This is part of my campaign to feature the horn this year," George said. "Each year I will select another instrument to feature."

George is the former associate professor of music and assistant director of bands at the University of Illinois. He also served as director of bands at Florida International University, the University of Dayton and Fisk University. He was the founding director of bands at the New World School of the Arts in Miami and worked as an assistant at the Boston Latin High School.

George, a graduate of Florida State University with a bachelor's degree in music education and a master's degree in music education, obtained his doctorate of musical arts in wind conducting at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music.

George said he hopes that high school conductors and their students will attend the concert as well.

"In addition to our university administrators, alumni, faculty and staff, I hope schools from around the area will join us in this very special occasion," he said.

Tickets are not required to attend this free concert. A reception will be held after the concert.

For more information, please call 812-237-2750 or 812-237-2752.

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/photos/1167567309_L4acA-L.jpg
Roby George, Indiana State University, director of bands

Contact: Roby George, Indiana State University, director of bands and associate professor of music, at 812-237-2771 or Roby.George@indstate.edu

Writer: Jennifer Sicking, Indiana State University, associate director of media relations, at 812-237-7972 or Jennifer.Sicking@indstate.edu