KORI BARKLEY
Staff Writer
In hopes of promoting and reflecting the diverse communities and audiences that orchestras embody, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has implemented a Diversity Plan. The EQT Orchestra Training Program for African American Musicians, a program of the plan, was created in 2007 to work to prepare African American musicians for a career in professional orchestra.
A highly competitive position, full-orchestra auditions are held to select a single musician for the two-year, pre-professional opportunity. This season’s position was awarded to Fredonia graduate Torrell Moss.
Having studied percussion under Dr. Karolyn Stonefelt, Moss earned his Bachelor of Music Performance degree in 2012. A two-time recipient of the Provost Scholarship, he is currently working to complete his master’s at Rice University under professors Matthew Strauss and Richard Brown’s mentorship.
After excelling in auditions playing snare drum, xylophone, glockenspiel, tambourine and cymbal excerpts, Moss’ fellowship with the PSO will begin in September. He will spend two seasons “immersed in the working environment of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, studying with the orchestra members to train and prepare for professional auditions and performance opportunities,” according to the PSO’s EQT OTPAAM 2015-2017 Fellow announcement. His time will include “practice, education and community engagement initiatives, and audition training.”
Moss’ passion for music was influenced by family members at an early age but fluctuated through the years. It wasn’t until his time at Fredonia that he realized his true potential.
“Music was always on in my house, and my family was always singing and dancing,” he said. “My grandfather played blues guitar, and my great grandfather and his son are and were both accomplished trumpet players. I thought it would be strange if I didn’t go into music, so, in third grade, I started playing cello. I [played] so much I almost failed math in sixth grade because I was rarely in class. My family made me take a year off of music and get a tutor until my grades came up. By that time, I was very out of practice and felt bad about it, so I quit.”
Soon after, Moss was inspired by a drummer in the high school band and bought a drum set, teaching himself by playing along to other music. He never took it as seriously as he wishes he would have, as he did not have the opportunity to take drum set lessons. Unsure of his potential, Moss then attended Fredonia as a liberal arts major and soon became acquainted with percussion.
“Steve Lowe was a percussion major in my dorm,” he continued, “and after becoming friends, I went to one of his Wind Symphony concerts. Percussion seemed like a lot of fun, so I started taking lessons from a graduate student the very next semester and auditioned that February. I guess, growing up, I always wanted to play but didn’t always have a great outlet or understanding of what it takes. Once I got to college, I sort of saw a road map to a career in music, and I took it, no questions asked.”
His experience thus far has involved performances with groups such as the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Hear & Now, the Ethos New Music Ensemble and with artists such as Joe Locke, Bernard Woma, Valerie Naranjo and more.
Moss is looking forward to the opportunity to be part of a major orchestra and study under inspiring percussionists.
“I’m excited to work with and learn from Andrew Reamer and Chris Allen, players I’ve been hearing about since my time in Fredonia,” he said. “Dr. Stonefelt has always said the best things about those guys. [Timpanist] Ed Stephan is someone I started following on my own after Fredonia, and his style really impresses me. I can’t wait to study with him. And just playing — I can’t wait for the playing!”