Featured Image: Dougherty performs in his senior recital at the Blankenship Recital Hall on Sunday, Nov. 16, in Martin, TN. | (Pacer Photo / Ethan Tanner)

Students from around UT Martin’s Music Department came full circle for senior music education major Landen Dougherty’s senior saxophone recital on Sunday, Nov. 16, in the Blankenship Recital Hall.

Unlike most of the usual senior recitals, Dougherty started his with a piece that was accompanied by a full choir set up in An Evening Prayer by Ola Gjeilo. Professor Brian Ray also accompanied on the piano while graduate assistant James McGregor conducted the choir.

The composition in its complete form was nothing short of a masterpiece. The choir would sing each verse of the song with splendid harmony as Dougherty’s part would emerge on top as he played crisp, soothing notes on his alto saxophone. As the song came to a close, the choir would repeat “amen” in extraordinary fashion as Ray played the accompaniment and Dougherty droned on effortlessly, sliding up and down different octaves, playing grace notes until the song came to a close on the last “amen.”

For his next piece, Dougherty arranged Earth Song, a prominent choir piece by composer Frank Ticheli, to be played by a saxophone quartet as opposed to four different vocal parts.

With the help of Josh White, Corey Arndt and Michael Johnson, Dougherty played his personal arrangement with much sophistication. The four parts would come together and intertwine with grace and tranquility, encapsulating the desired emotions in the slow, melancholy tune.

After a brief intermission, Dougherty was accompanied by pianist Timothy Odle for Constellations by Katahj Copley. During this piece, Dougherty shifted tunes from a rapid, fast-paced melody to a more slow and gentle composition, before ending with a fast, exuberant theme. This was probably the piece that best showcased his rich, dark timbre since there was not as much instrumentation as in the previous pieces. He finished the piece excellently and to much applause.

For his finale piece, The Perfect Storm by Chris Evan Hass, Dougherty was joined by his fellow senior saxophonist, Josh White, with Professor Ray as piano accompanist.

This piece was a mysterious beauty; Ray would plink on piano pieces in a quiet pattern as Dougherty and White would play calming notes with their saxophones which would match tunes, harmonize and overlap as the song progressed. Despite it described a so-called storm, the piece was a perfect blend of beauty and unity until it reached a segment where it transformed into a riveting, chaotic composition. Despite its complex rhythms and duets, the musicians were able to complete a perfect performance that was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

As Dougherty’s roommate, White has spent plenty of time with Dougherty throughout college. They first met as high school students when they were part of the Tennessee All-West band back in 2022 and have come to know each other quite well as they have pursued further musical ventures.

“I can say that he’s nourished me in my musical journey. And I hope that I’ve benefited him a little bit. And it’s just been absolutely fantastic where we’re at right now,” White said. 

Dougherty’s mother, Brandi Gail Cox, is proud to see how far her son has come since she first introduced him to his passion for music.

“I did force him into piano at the age of five. And made him take piano until he was 16.  And I wouldn’t let him quit band. I made him continue. And here he is, the music major,” she said.

After he finished years of dedication and practice under Professor Doug Owens, Dougherty is thankful for his time at UTM and has learned a lot of life lessons from his time in the Music Department.

“As corny as it sounds, music does bring people together. And I had a grand time playing my recital. Normally, I’m nervous, but over the course of the time I’ve been here, I’ve just learned to love performing with people. That makes it a lot more fun,” Dougherty said.

Dougherty plans to attend graduate school at some point in hopes of someday to become a music professor.

The recital can be viewed below: