Dominick DiOrio, Lone Star College-Montgomery’s director of choral activities and associate professor of music, had the distinct honor of performing at Carnegie Hall with the prestigious Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC) during the Carnegie Hall Choral Institute’s three-day Transient Glory Symposium in February.

During the symposium, DiOrio and seven other conducting fellows from around the world led music by eight contemporary composers in musical workshops and evening concerts.

“It was a wonderful opportunity,” said DiOrio, who directed about 40 children in the YPC. “These young people are trained so well, and through the program they are taught to be great musicians.”

DiOrio conducted two separate concerts: one at (Le) Poisson Rouge, an avant-garde performance space; and the other Zankel Hall, one of the three main stages at Carnegie Hall. He worked with Cuban-American composer Paquito D’Riviera to direct D’Riviera’s classical and Latin jazz piece Tembandumba.

“It was interesting to be there with the composer on hand, giving feedback as you went through the piece,” said DiOrio. “Plus, D’Riviera talked about his life and why he wrote what he did.”

In an interview with Huffington Post, DiOrio said Tembandumba is “an infectiously rhythmic boisterous work that brims and bustles with the sound of drums, claves, and the dance. Our bodies, our minds, and our thoughts are unique, special, and worthy of celebration. Anyone that performs Tembandumba and internalizes its message will come across with this simple and profound idea.

“It teaches students to perform a number of advanced technique. Any chorus wanting to tackle the music must master the techniques and deal with the quickly articulated Spanish text.”  

It was a unique opportunity for DiOrio, but also one that he can share with his students at LSC-Montgomery.

“It is always great for the students to see their professor become visible on a national level,” said DiOrio. “It’s a great benefit to them to see a model of professional excellence, and what I want them to aspire to.”

DiOrio’s experience at Carnegie Hall is just one of the numerous recognitions and awards he’s received in the past few years. In December, DiOrio was voted ‘Best Composer’ By Houston Press, and in 2009, DiOrio traveled to Sweden to compete in the Eric Ericson Award, the top international competition for young choral conductors.

In the two years that he’s worked at LSC-Montgomery, DiOrio has tripled the size of the choral department, instituted a four-course sequence in lyric direction for singers, and created the college’s first-ever opera program, which is now in its third year.  

DiOrio recently completed his doctor of musical arts degree from the Yale School of Music.

The LSC-Montgomery music department prepares students for careers in music through an intensive two-year field of study in theory, ear training, music history, keyboard skills and private performance lessons. After completing the field of study curriculum at LSC-Montgomery, music majors can transfer credit to any four-year Texas college or university to complete the bachelor's degree in music. In addition, the music department offers non-major courses such as Music Appreciation, Electronic Music, American Music, and Popular Song Writing, with selected courses available via continuing education.

Led by noted faculty, students in the choirs, bands, and string ensemble bring a full season of concerts and recitals in a broad range of styles to the surrounding community.

For a list of the upcoming concert dates or for more information about the music department at LSC-Montgomery, visit www.LoneStar.edu/music-montgomery.

LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call 936.273.7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.

With 75,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball, and LSC-University Park, five centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.