Dr. Thomas Conroy joined the Composition Faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) in the fall of 2009. His doctorate is from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, awarded in 2006. While at Rice he won the Paul Cooper Prize for his orchestral work “Symphonic Metamorphosis.” Prior to that he received his Master’s degree from SFCM in 2003, where another orchestral work, “Essay for Orchestra,” received the James Highsmith Award.
Next month he will give an SFCM Faculty Artist Recital at which he will present two recent works:
- “Vespers at Sacré-Cœur” takes its thematic material from the chants used during the Sunday afternoon vespers services at the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris. This basilica is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris, meaning that any time of day is a source of rich ambient sounds in the background of any service taking place. This composition is scored for string quartet and uses the instruments to capture the full scope of the auditory experience in the sanctuary of the basilica. Each of the three movements is based on a different chant from the service, introduced by an obbligato soprano soloist.
- “The Necklace” is a musical account of the short story by Guy de Maupassant of the same name, one of his best known works that is also highly representative of the author’s keen sense of irony.
Conroy’s recital will take place at 8 p.m. on Friday, February 8, in the SFCM Recital Hall. Tickets will sell for $20 for general admission, with a $15 rate for students, seniors, and Friends of the Conservatory. Tickets may be purchased online through a hyperlink on the Performance Calendar event page for this recital or by calling the Box Office at 415-503-6275. (Box Office hours are 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday through Friday.)
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