Limelight: Trent Navran, flutist of the Campanile Orchestra

By Sonia Pothraj     10/26/11 7:00pm

Engineers can play the violin, psychologists can play the guitar, linguists can play the clarinet. Trent Navran, a McMurtry College freshman and a member of the Rice/Baylor Medical Scholars Program, plays the flute. Non-music majors like Navran are encouraged to foster their musical passions via the Rice University Campanile Orchestra.

The Campanile Orchestra is comprised of non-music majors and members of the greater Rice community who have had musical experience and wish to continue their orchestral activities. Music majors are also free to join.

For Navran, the decision to join this organization came easily.

---

---

"I am very passionate about music," he said. "Although, professionally, I know I want to go into medicine, I can't see myself ever being without music."

Since beginning with the classical guitar at the age of seven, Navran's interest in music has expanded. In his fifth grade middle school band, he began learning how to play the flute. In seventh grade, he learned to play the jazz guitar.

Navran was a part of his high school wind ensemble and the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, and ultimately became first chair in both. In September 2008, he was the youngest player selected to perform for a Jason Vieaux master class during the Guitars International Weekend at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Aside from recitals within his school, Navran has also played at weddings and other cultural events.

However, Navran's experiences with music are not limited to his hometown. During his travels to Iran, he received instruction from an Iranian music master and learned traditional Iranian styles. His playing is also influenced by trips to both Europe and Germany.

Navran has even performed his personal style of music with famous Iranian pop stars. In 2008, he accompanied Shakila in her Los Angeles tour; in 2011, with Bijan Mortazavi in Chicago.

A significant part of Navran's decision to attend Rice stemmed from its excellent musical environment. As an institution that values music and the arts, Navran felt comfortable knowing his musical passions would be satisfied. Trent discovered the Campanile Orchestra through an email late in the summer. He prepared two contrasting pieces of music, auditioned in September and was accepted.

Conducted by staff from the Shepherd School of Music, the Orchestra performs two concerts every academic year, consisting of major works from the standard orchestral repertoire.

As far as the future is concerned, Navran is considering playing in the Baylor Medical Center Orchestra but realizes that the environment created at Rice is one-of-a-kind. The opportunity for students with other academic interests to join a legitimate musical group is unlike any other.

"Rice is all about taking passions and pursuing them to the utmost extent," Navran said.

---