MONTREAL, Canada — Jan. 5, 2017 — During his junior year at 51社区, Joey Moore experienced a significant challenge that threatened his ability to play the trumpet.
鈥淢y wisdom teeth began to grow in perpendicular, and it hurt so bad I could hardly play,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淎s a brass prayer, a lot of your ability to play the instrument is based on your dental structure, so after the surgery to remove my wisdom teeth, I had to start playing from the beginning all over again.鈥�
But Moore overcame that trial, and following his graduation in May 2016, Moore received the opportunity to attend the Schulich School of Music at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where he has now earned a place in the top orchestra.
A music major from Jackson, Tennessee, Moore is confident that his four years at Union gave him the Christian worldview to survive in a city that he says is largely atheistic.
鈥淚 can now be a light for the gospel here at McGill,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淚 have already had the chance to share my faith with several people, and Union gave me those tools 鈥� what to say and when to say something.鈥�
The 50 percent scholarship to McGill came at the end of four years of hard work, which began with Moore entering the Keystone Program at Union. Keystone supports selected students who may fall short of Union鈥檚 regular admission requirements and helps them make a successful transition to college life.
He later tackled the problems that arose from his dental issues.
Moore said he would spend two hours in the morning warming up with a fundamentals routine, followed by an hour and a half of building strength and endurance, and then up to two hours of practicing the assigned music every day.
Dennis Smith, Moore鈥檚 private teacher, played a significant role in helping him relearn the trumpet. Moore also credits Chris Matthews, Dan Musselman, David McClune and Michael Mann with providing him the framework and the tools for living as a Christian musician.
Moore鈥檚 time studying under these professors helped prepare him for the orchestral training program at McGill.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very intense,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淚鈥檓 playing in three different ensembles, and I have up to 10 rehearsals a week.鈥�
Moore plans to graduate from McGill in December 2017. Immediately following his graduation, Moore is considering a job with the symphony orchestra in Montreal or otherwise returning to Jackson to begin a chamber music project.
鈥淭he purpose of the project is two-fold: public fundraising for law enforcement, military and first responders and then educational outreach,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淎 lot of law enforcement and military have come under fire in the news lately, and I want to start a project that shows them support.鈥�
Moore would apply for a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission to employ professional musicians in the region to perform throughout the concert season. Several of Moore鈥檚 connections have already shown interest in being involved in the project.
鈥淲e want to make live music accessible to everyone,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淚鈥檇 love if we could partner with different schools in Jackson and do concerts for the children too.鈥�
The chamber music project would start in January 2018. Moore has already begun composing one of the first pieces for the inaugural concert.
Moore eventually plans to teach at a university after pursuing a doctor of musical arts degree while playing in an orchestra.