The University of Alabama School of Music’s Huxford Symphony Orchestra will perform its first concert of the fall semester tonight at the Moody Music Building.

The orchestra will perform the Prelude to Wagner’s “Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg,” Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture” and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 7.” The musical selections offer a range of styles from the Wagner’s heroic marches to Tchaikovsky’s beautiful melodies.

In addition to this being the orchestra’s first concert of the year, this is also its first concert with Demondrae Thurman conducting as the orchestra’s new music director. Previously, Thurman conducted both of the orchestra’s spring 2011 concerts before taking his role as music director.

In addition to being the Director of Orchestral Studies, Thurman is also the Brass Area Coordinator and the Associate Professor of Euphonium and Tuba for the School of Music.

According to the School of Music’s website, “[he] is considered one of the stars of the formidable generation of brass soloists.” Some of his other credits include co-founding the wind ensemble at Alabama State University in 1999, playing first euphonium and trombone in the “highly regarded” Sotto Voce Quartet and performing in France, Germany, England, Norway, Romania and throughout North America.

Thurman is also a sought-after teacher and clinician, having been invited to festivals such as the U.S. Army Band Tuba and Euphonium Conference and the International Tuba/Euphonium Conference. He was regarded by classicstoday.com as “one of the premiere euphonium players in the world.”

As musical director for the orchestra, Thurman plans to expand the string section, thus giving the group the ability to play pieces by composers that call for a larger orchestra, specifically composers such as Gustav Mahler and Dmitri Shostakovich.

In the long term, Thurman plans for the orchestra to tour the state and the region, which Thurman said he believes will increase the orchestra’s audience and work as a tool in recruiting students for the orchestra and the School of Music, especially out-of-state students.

The orchestra also benefits non-music students, giving them the opportunity to experience the spontaneity and culture that music offers. Dr. Thurman explains that going to concerts gives students skills that will extend into the business world such as teaching them to enjoy the arts and behave in a concert setting, which he says are desirable skills for people who must entertain clients and network outside the workplace.

Tonight’s concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. There is no cost for admission and the concert is open to the public.