Elliott Loughney, a junior civil engineering and music double major, will perform the first movement of Edvard Grieg's "Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16," with the UW-Platteville Symphonic Wind Ensemble in concert on Wednesday, Nov. 13. Last spring, Elliott entered the annual concerto competition hosted by the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the music fraternity on campus. As the competition's winner, he will perform the concerto with the wind ensemble in front of an audience.

Last April, six exceptionally talented student musicians worked on a solo piece in hopes of capturing an opportunity to perform it this fall. The musicians auditioned on stage for a panel of judges, who evaluated each performance and selected a winner. Elliott was chosen for his performance of Grieg's Piano Concerto, a famously complex and profoundly romantic piece of music. Over the summer and during the fall 2024 semester, Elliott worked on the piece to prepare for his Symphonic Wind Ensemble performance. Elliott explained that it's his "first time performing a piano concerto with an ensemble, so I am looking forward to the concert to experience a new way of performing."

Elliott, who hails from New Berlin, Wisconsin, is 20 years old and has been surrounded by music his entire life. He began taking piano lessons in kindergarten and started playing horn in beginning band, which he continued to play with bands and orchestras throughout middle and high school.

When he first came to UW-Platteville, he started as a civil engineering major. With some persuasion from his piano instructor, Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Kaju Lee, Elliott began taking band classes his first year. He plays the mellophone for the Marching Pioneers and currently plays first chair horn in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and horn for the Symphony Orchestra.

"I want to take advantage of the opportunity to take music classes and learn as much as I can about music so that when I continue to be involved in the future, I can do it well," Elliott explained.

Few schools offer the opportunity to pursue both an engineering degree and music study with equal intensity. UW- Platteville is one of those rare institutions. As Associate Professor of Music Daniel Rowland explains, "UW-Platteville only has 60 music majors, but we have 18 music ensembles: 3 full bands, 5 choirs, 2 jazz bands, an orchestra, a 200-person marching band and every chamber ensemble you can think of. We have the opportunities of a big school, with the feel and personal attention of a small school."

Currently 90% of the dedicated participants in the university's music ensembles are not music majors. Some students, like Elliott, find a music major or minor a welcome companion to studies in another discipline. Besides engineering, current music majors are pursuing double majors in Spanish, English, education or theater.

Elliott's dedication and focus, both in and out of the classroom, continually inspire his peers and professors alike. Elliott dedicates hours every night practicing piano and horn, as well as managing his music theory and engineering classes. Director of Bands Matthew Gregg, who has taught Elliott in several classes, remarked, "The practice time required to do that, and to be able to thrive in all areas, almost seems superhuman."

Additionally, Elliott's horn instructor Dr. Sarah Gillespie pointed out that Elliott is one of the most hardworking students she has taught. "It's very rare to have a student like him, he's exceptional."

Wednesday's concert is science-fiction themed, and the evening will include pieces of music considered to be associated with space, as well as an accurate transcription of notes from the "Star Wars" movies. Elliott's performance of the Grieg concerto will complement the unique program.

"When you hear him play, it's pretty transcendent," said Gregg.

"Out of this World: Symphonic Wind Ensemble in Concert" is Wednesday, Nov.13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for Performing Arts. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students, and free for children under 18. Tickets are available at the door or through the University Box Office online.