‘Hallelujah Trombone’: a tribute to a long-time faculty member
For the past 25 years, Todd Fallis has been a beloved figure in Utah State University’s music department. Last Saturday, the band program commemorated his time here with a spectacular concert,”Hallelujah Trombone.”
Fallis said having a concert dedicated to him was “pretty rockin’.”
“We’ve got 35 alumni from 14 different states, graduates spanning from 1993 all the way through Christmas time last year,” he said.
The 35 alumni, along with an ensemble of students, came together to form a low brass choir, which took center stage in the packed Taggart Student Center Ballroom. Every one of the musicians studied the art of low brass performance under Fallis, who joined USU’s staff as the professor of trombone in 1991.
Todd Fallis is popular among his students. Hannah Collins, majoring in business administration, has played in Fallis’ trombone ensemble for the last three years.
“He’s hilarious. Kind of sassy too,” Collins said. “He’s definitely fun to be around.”
David Young, a trombone and euphonium player majoring in music education, praised Fallis’ effectiveness as a teacher.
“He’s really helped me tap my potential,” Young said. ” He’s good at encouraging his students. At one point last semester, I was feeling really discouraged, but he helped me get over the rough spots in my playing and showed me that I’m capable of more than I thought I was.”
“Hallelujah Trombone” was no sudden arrangement. Thomas P. Rohrer, conductor of both the Wind Orchestra and Symphonic Band, said the idea had been around since May 2015.
“Loads of preparations have gone into this,” Rohrer said. “We’ve been rehearsing the music since the beginning of the semester, and we’ve been setting up this ballroom all day.”
The combined brass choir shared the stage with both of Rohrer’s ensembles, adding up to over 150 musicians in the front of the ballroom. Each ensemble delivered its own unique performance throughout the night.
The night kicked off with a modern arrangement of Richard Wagner’s “Prelude to Act 3, Lohengrin,” an uptempo piece that showcased the wind orchestra’s low brass sections with a triumphant melody that soared over the accompanying woodwinds and percussion. It was followed by a piece from the symphonic band, and a bass trombone solo featuring Fallis himself, accompanied by the wind orchestra.
Despite the performances being quite professional, the overall environment of the audience was casual. A baby crying, a little girl telling her mommy she was hungry and the chatter of an elderly couple were all heard between the deeply resonant notes from Fallis’ trombone.
Standout performances included the Wind Orchestra’s chilling portrayal of “and the mountains rising nowhere,” the combined effort of the Orchestra and Brass Choir on the lengthy, yet intriguing “Music for a Festival,” and the world premiere performance of “Silver Legacy,” written by Rohrer and dedicated to Fallis.
“We’ve been buddies since I got here 18 years ago,” Rohrer said.
If a career is like a child, Fallis is a family man.
“The years have gone by so fast,” Fallis reflected. “As I look through the program and see all the years that have gone by, memories flood back from all the students I had. It’s like raising a child, dedicating so much of your career in one place.”