Today we’d like to introduce you to Alan Austin.
Alan, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I began playing the violin at age 11…. late for a musician, but I took to it immediately. It was so satisfying to make music with other friends. I went to the North Carolina School of the Arts for high school, which was luckily, in my hometown, and I was a fully professional member of the Winston-Salem Symphony through high school. When it came time to graduate, I considered many prominent conservatories and universities, but settled on University of Houston because of the noted Houston violinist, Fredell Lack. I received both undergrad and graduate degrees there and quickly began performing with groups like the Houston Ballet Orchestra, Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, and J. S. Bach Society. A few years later, I became the director of the Texas Music Festival (TMF), a summer orchestral training program, which has, over the decades, become recognized as one of the pre-eminent programs of its kind in the US.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t know anyone who is blessed with a strictly smooth path. As a musician, we spend our lives challenging ourselves to always reach a little higher, and that kind of discipline prepares you well for the bumps in the road. I read an interview with a musician recently who said that you should always take on projects that are a little scary… that it’s the surest way to grow. And experience also teaches you that, no matter the circumstances, you will come out on the other side. That’s particularly comforting knowledge during this crazy pandemic, which has, in one fell swoop, put virtually every performing musician out of all work. And not only is there no roadmap for the foreseeable future, but public gatherings will only come back slowly, as people eventually regain some level of comfort.
Regarding the 2020 Texas Music Festival, like all summer festivals, we were not able to gather this year, but we are using the time to strategize about making next summer’s program the best one ever. During the festival period (each June) we’ve been through Tropical Storm Allison, hurricanes, and numerous other incidents. But here we are….
Immanuel and Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Texas Music Festival is a combination of summer performance presenter and summer school for the ‘cream of the crop’ of today’s young orchestral, vocal, and high school jazz performers. Our Orchestral Institute is the backbone of our program, bringing some 80-90 musicians together in Houston after an intensive audition process, to live the life of a professional musician. Each week features a brand-new concert of great music, led by world-renowned conductors who enjoy training younger players for a professional level career. We also have a Vocal Institute for young opera singers and a Jazz Institute for Houston’s finest high school jazz musicians.
I’m also a performing violinist and, especially, enjoy playing with Ars Lyrica Houston and director Matthew Dirst. I also perform regularly with groups in Austin, as well as Houston’s J.S. Bach Society and the Latin American Philharmonic.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
For any career in the arts, discipline is key. Regular practice on the violin from a young age helped develop a work ethic that carries through life. Being able to work with your colleagues is key, too. As a violinist, you CAN make music by yourself, but I’m always happiest working with others. There’s something special about creating a performance — or just one moment — that everyone feels satisfied with.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tmf.uh.edu
- Email: tmf@uh.edu
- Facebook: TexasMusicFestival.UH
- Twitter: TXMusicFestival
Image Credit:
Hae a Lee; Pin Lim; Jeff Grass Photography
Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
