Last Thursday evening (9/10), the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston held its annual Collage program for the beginning of the school year. This is an event where every department within the music school is showcased and serves as a preview of things to come for the semester. The Jazz Orchestra was scheduled to begin promptly at 7:30, and at 7:28 a fire alarm tripped! This delayed the show AND forced the crowd of hundreds outside until the premises was declared safe by authorities. Gheesh! Talk about your feats of aleatoricism! John Cage would have been proud. The review below is from the university’s daily paper, The Daily Cougar.
Rousing melodies engage crowd
By Christina Hildebrand, Monday, September 14, 2009
Even a highly sensitive fire alarm could not prevent Collage 2009 from introducing students to the Moores School of Music’s delightful fall schedule.
The alarm went off shortly before the concert was scheduled to begin, leading to a mass evacuation of the Moores Opera House. The show resumed, however, at around 7:42 p.m. Thursday.
The delay did not dampen the spirits of the audience or performers, as the concert was a success.
Moores School of Music Director David Ashley White joked about the ordeal, saying that the event was “censorship.”
White also said last year’s show was cancelled due to Hurricane Ike.
The concert was a preview of the many ensembles at the Moores School of Music and the concerts they will participate in during Fall 2009.
