After a tornado ripped through Hattiesburg, Miss., on Feb. 10, causing tens of millions of dollars of damage to the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi, the members of the Vanderbilt Trombone Studio wanted their Southern Miss peers to know they were thinking about them. Blair School of Music trombone professor Jeremy Wilson explains what they did:
“The Vanderbilt Trombone Studio was saddened to hear of the recent devastating tornado damage to the University of Southern Mississippi School of Music. Eric Osborn, a senior trombone major at Vandy, transcribed the USM alma mater, and we used it as our warm-up chorale in performance class today. We offer this musical gesture of encouragement and sympathy especially to the USM Trombone Studio (led by my friend Dr. Ben McIlwain) and indeed to the entire University of Southern Mississippi.
“When I visited USM as a guest artist about a year ago, I was treated so beautifully and received so warmly. I am so thankful for that experience and for the friendships resulting from that trip. I cannot imagine seeing the Blair School of Music in ruins… We wish you all the best in your efforts to rebuild, restore, and recover in the coming months.”