Student Spotlight: Brandon Dicks
Name: Brandon Dicks
Age: 21
School: Columbus State University, Schwob School of Music
Major: Music Education
Year: Senior
Instrument/Area of Study: Trumpet with Robert Murray, Composition with James Ogburn
Interesting Experiences: Worked and studied composition privately at Interlochen Michigan for two summers. Working at First Baptist Church in Columbus as a Koart Scholar (music Intern).
Awards and Honors: Won the Columbus Symphony Orchestra Fanfare Competition; won the 2014-15 Georgia State Division of the MTNA Young Artist Competition in Composition; and received honorable mention at the Southern Division of the MTNA Young Artist Competition in Composition; also has been commissioned by the Columbus State University Historical Department, Robert Murray and Paul Hostetter.
Hometown: Roswell, Ga.
Favorite spot in Columbus: Chattahoochee RiverWalk
Favorite piece of music ever performed: Roman Festivals by Respighi. Performed with the CSU Wind Ensemble in 2015.
Favorite composer: Joseph Schwantner
Most interesting musical experience: The most interesting musical experience I have had so far was working with the CSU Philharmonic with a world premiere composition, Thunders of Calbuco. The epxperience was intense due to the constraints of time. The commission was given in May 2015 with a deadline of September, 9th 2015. However, I did not begin writing drafts of the piece until July 2015. I had an idea for Thunders, but I was too busy trying to finish another work (Echoing Flares) to focus on Thunders. Luckily, I was at the Interlochen Summer camp at that time. I received some guidance from Robert Deemer, a composition teacher at Interlochen ended up working on both compositions at the same time. I spent at least 25 hours a week on the compositions while still working and practicing trumpet. In the span of a month, I finished both works and went back to school feeling accomplished. The Philharmonic did an excellent job performing Thunders of Calbuco that fall.
What’s on your favorite iTunes playlist?: Fratres: Arvo Part; Oceana: Osvaldo Golijov; Symphony No. 3 (Organ): Saint-Saens; Black Anemones: Joseph Schwantner; Light in the Hallway: Pentatonix; The 2nd Law: Muse; and Danzon No. 2: Arturo Marquez.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned in your studies?: Music is a discipline where you cannot just be one specific label. You can’t be just a performer, just a composer or just a music educator. To be an excellent musician, one must have many different labels and be flexible with those labels on the spot. The reason is not to be a master of all, but to gain understanding of the art that is represented. Without that understanding, the music is restricted to a single interpretation rather than numerous expressions for a single statement. Being a complete expert of music gives musicians an enormous palette of color and expression.
What are you currently working on?: A five movement suite for the flute, clarinet, oboe, cello and percussion. The piece is inspired by multiple videos featuring visually marvelous “Slow Motion.”
Any upcoming performances of your work: Composition Recital in fall 2017
Career goals: Planning to get a master’s, possibly a doctorate, in composition and teach music theory/composition at the collegiate level, and will continue to play trumpet.
This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 11:25 AM with the headline "Student Spotlight: Brandon Dicks."