Sherman, Texas -- Austin College will welcome Deux-Eaux to campus for a musical performance in Wynne Chapel on Saturday, October 8 at 7:30 p.m. Their program includes works by Muczynski, Lees, Szalowski, and more. The recital, made possible by the Wright Fund Visiting Artists Series and the Austin College Music Department, is free and open to the public.
Deux-Eaux (a Cajun-twisted play on the word “duo”) is a flute-clarinet duo sparked in the Louisiana bayou in the late 90s. Mary Alice Druhan (clarinet) and Rob Aughtry (flute) have a rich and successful story of music and friendship to share through performance and teaching. Their story continued with their simultaneous professional positions and performances with the Baton Rouge Symphony, the Acadiana Symphony, the Natchez Opera, the Ohio Light Opera, and finally, by the year 2000, both were employed by The U. S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, D.C.
Deux-Eaux offers audiences and students around the world a wealth of information about a career in performance, the preparation and audition process, the joys and challenges of being collaborators in performance, building a successful career portfolio, and creating opportunities based on personal and collaborative interests. More than that, their tale takes listeners from Korea to Belgium and is a heartwarming look into the friendships we build through musical collaboration and the connections we create through performance.
“Visiting artists provide a great benefit to the campus community,” said Adjunct Instructor in Applied Music Leslie Whelan. “The musicians who perform at Austin College through the Wright Fund are exceptional talents, and being able to attend such performances on campus at no charge is a tremendous opportunity.”
Additionally, Deux-Eaux will give a talk on campus on Wednesday, October 7 during the College’s weekly public Wind Down Wednesday event. Druhan and Aughtry will talk about their musical careers and share information about their recital scheduled for Thursday, October 8.
“Whether students are actively pursuing the study of music or would just like to take in a cultural experience, Austin College's ability to facilitate these performances provides an enriching experience,” said Whelan. “In addition, it offers a fantastic way to open our doors to the community at large. Consistently, community members who attend performances such as this are thrilled to have the opportunity to attend free performances where they can see and hear excellent performers sharing a variety of music.”
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 45 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
