OU Music Student Secures Prestigious Position in OKCPHIL

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NORMAN, OKLA. – There’s no doubt that Hope Bellows was destined for a career in music. Her parents are both band directors and her two siblings also play instruments. Bellows herself took up the trombone in seventh grade.

Today, the Moore resident is a junior studying psychology at the University of Oklahoma. Her minor in music, however, is taking her places she had only dreamed of as a high school student. Bellows recently auditioned and earned a seat as the second-chair trombone in the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra.

It’s rare for a college student to earn such a seat.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Hope in the OU Symphony during the past year and am delighted and not surprised to hear of her success. She brings high intelligence and musicianship to her playing and has an innate feel for playing within an orchestra, blending her sound with the entirety of voices. I look forward very much to following her progress,” said Jonathan Shames, D.M.A., director of OU’s Orchestral Studies program.

Bellows is ecstatic about her acceptance.

“I have attended OKCPHIL concerts many times and the idea of playing alongside these amazing musicians in a professional orchestra was something I have always dreamed of,” she said.

The audition itself consisted of two rounds. The first round was a blind audition that contained four different trombone orchestral excerpts. The second round was in front of a committee, which involved playing five orchestral excerpts and an unaccompanied trombone solo piece.

Bellows attributes her successful audition to OU trombone professor William Lang.

“Professor Lang provided me with numerous resources to aid in the audition process. This included orchestral excerpt reading days with a full trombone section with lessons and access to recordings of each excerpt. Listening to each of the orchestral pieces that I had to prepare was essential in my preparation. It allowed me to understand the context of the piece and how the second trombone part fits into the orchestra,” she said.

Bellows says OU has played a major role in her musical development.

“Through OU, I have been provided with countless opportunities to perform, take lessons and volunteer for playing opportunities. Each of these opportunities has shaped me into the musician that I am today. I owe a lot of thanks to the two amazing trombone professors that I have at OU, professors Irv Wagner and William Lang,” she said.

Wagner taught Bellows in high school later becoming her first trombone professor at OU. She now sits in the chair of the longtime OU trombone professor who was the orchestra’s second trombonist for many years. Known to his students as Doc Wagner, he died in 2023.

“Doc Wagner’s talent and passion for the trombone were always so inspirational and he was always so supportive. He encouraged me to audition,” she said.

Balancing academic responsibilities and musical commitments can be challenging, but Bellows manages with a detailed planner.

“Sometimes, I will have a concert on the same night that I have a large homework assignment due. For these days, I get my homework completed before the due date, so I am not stressed the day it is due,” she said.

Looking ahead, Bellows anticipates a busy fall semester.

“My rehearsal and performance schedule varies each week,” Bellows said. “There are always several rehearsal days leading up to performances. And sometimes, there are two performances in one day. Luckily, most rehearsals and performances are in the evening, so I will be able to find a way to balance school with performances and rehearsals.”

OKCPHIL music director Alexander Mickelthwate looks forward to Bellows joining the orchestra.

“We are really excited for Hope. It is wonderful when we can tap into the young, talented players from the local Oklahoma universities. Hope fits right in with her sound and energy and it will be a real pleasure working with her,” Mickelthwate said.