The WSU Symphony Orchestra will perform several favorite orchestral pieces including a tuba concerto performed by master’s student Duncan Titus on Thursday.

Titus, who is in the second year of getting his Master of Arts in music performance, will be playing his first solo of this scale, he said.

“It’s all been kind of me and the piano,” Titus said. “This is the first time I’ve gotten to play with such a large group which is really scary, but really exciting.”

Titus has been training for this piece since February. He got the piece last year when he was co-winner for WSU’s Concerto/Aria Competition.

“It’s been a long time preparing for it,” he said.

The orchestra will also perform Jean Sibelius’s “Finlandia,” said orchestra violinist Ashleigh Nealer, graduate student studying violin performance. She said she is excited for the audience to experience this song.

“It’s just a really cool piece,” Nealer said. “And there’s a lot of history behind it.”

This is her first year playing with WSU’s Symphony Orchestra, she said.

To close out, the orchestra will play a piece by Arturo Marquez called “Danzon No. 2,” a dance-like piece with a Latin bass, Titus said.

“It’s really fun,” Titus said. “Anyone who comes will really enjoy that one.”

“Finlandia” will be conducted by graduate student Angelia Gomez, and WSU School of Music’s Danh Pham will be the orchestra’s conductor.

The concert will be from 7:30-9:30 p.m. on Thursday at Bryan Hall Theatre. There will be a livestream for anyone who cannot make it to the concert.

Though Titus has his own solo to focus on, he said he is excited to hear the rest of the orchestra play together at the performance, especially since it’s their first one of the year.

“I think it’s going to be a great concert,” he said.