A VISIT WITH DR. TIM BERGMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GULF COAST SYMPHONY

By: Nancy Marchbanks

Tim Bergman is a delightful man, with a profound passion for music. Music is second nature to him. He began his musical journey by joining his high school band, learning to play the trombone. "I loved the visual aspect of it, the slide was so flashy," Tim said with a laugh.
Serious music lessons and study began in college. Much to his parents dismay, Tim yearned for a career in music and was ready to lay the ground work. "Music is a linear art form, it must be experienced from beginning to end which fascinated me. How do you put the pieces together, how do you hold the listeners attention...I found, I could not get enough of this," he said. One day, the band director needed someone in the class to step in and temporarily take his place. This was a golden opportunity for Bergman, who volunteered immediately. Tim was the section leader for the trombone players and felt completely responsible for how the group played. He was well respected among his peers, and they trusted his instincts. "Trombones can be very subtle, or they can be very loud and powerful, creating a certain tone color while the other instruments (clarinets, woodwinds, trumpets and french horns) play very similarly throughout the entire piece of music," Tim explained.
In the beginning of his Senior year, it was clear to him that conducting was going to be his life's work. The first time on stage as the director, was a terrifying experience. Tim had calculated all the mechanics, he knew the music backward and forward but he could not comprehend that the band would actually respond to his direction. Of course they did and so it began. After that initial stage fright, Tim found that conducting an orchestra was as natural to him as breathing.
Tim attended the very well established school of music, Stetson University in Deland, Florida. It was quite small, but the level of talent was outstanding. "My curiosity was greater than most students there, and I pushed myself as hard as I could, experienced as much as I could, and my talent developed quickly," Bergman said. Although most of his classmates were satisfied to take the easy road, Tim reveled in the pursuit of perfection. He loved to push the envelope and threw himself into every challenge that came along.
Upon graduation, Tim acquired a degree in Music Theory/Composition and went on to the University of Connecticut on a scholarship for Conducting. He received his Doctorate at the University of Miami, where he was one of only three student conductors. It was a huge period of self discovery. He stayed very busy, and was rewarded with unprecedented opportunity. While Tim was still a student, he became the Music Director of the Greater Miami Youth Symphony. He remained there for the next 4 years, and really loved teaching the young proteges.
Acting as Assistant Conductor of the Baton Rouge Symphony and working with the Louisiana Youth Orchestra was the next step in his career. He did so for 7 years. During this time, Tim discovered he was quite interested in the Administration side of the music business. His level of expertise proved to be quite an asset behind the scenes, as well as on the stage. Tim became an Executive Director of the Louisiana Alliance for Arts Education. The foundation is closely linked to the Kennedy Center. He and his associates worked tirelessly in an effort to keep the Arts in the classroom. Once again, he became an Executive Director, but this time it was for the Acadiana Symphony in Lafayette, Louisiana.
In 2001, Tim began directing our Gulf Coast Symphony Youth Orchestra. At the time, he would commute from Baton Rouge to Lafayette, and then to Mississippi each week. He and his family live happily on the Coast now, and he no longer travels as extensively. Tim's wife, Susan is a Board Certified Music Therapist in private practice.
We are so fortunate to have our own symphony orchestra on the Coast. If you have attended concerts, and support the GC Symphony Youth Orchestra – BRAVO! If you have yet to experience this very special variety of entertainment, you owe it to yourself to do so as soon as possible.
In closing Tim said, "We are all walking instruments, we are born with our voice - listening, truly listening, just might change the world."