Music Department Will Miss Professor Patrick Miles
Photo by Shelby Steinke

Music Department Will Miss Professor Patrick Miles

With his retirement approaching at the end of the semester, Professor Patrick Miles conducted one of his final performances as the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Director of Orchestral Activities on Friday, April 22, in front of a sold-out audience.

Playing the horn since ninth grade, Miles found his passion for music at a young age. He described how his family was always around music, and he knew this was what he wanted to do by the time he was in high school.

Miles has worked as Professor of Horn at UWSP since 1989 and has held the title of Director of Orchestral Activities since 1990. With  27 years at UWSP, Miles will be deeply missed by the music department’s students and faculty. He will miss them as well since his favorite part was the students.

“Without a doubt, they’re the greatest. They’ll work their tails off for you; they’ll do anything for you. The work ethic and the talent and the sincerity that the students at this school have is special. There’s not a lot of other places that have it,” he said.

Margaret Taugher, senior horn performance major, has worked with Miles in classes and said he is committed to his students.

She said, “He’s always about the student; he’s never about himself. He puts the students first always.”

Some of Miles’s many notable accomplishments include his performances with numerous orchestras such as the Green Bay Symphony, the Fox Valley Symphony, the Pamiro Opera Company and the Joffrey Ballet. Miles also co-authored the McGraw-Hill textbook Teaching Brass: A Resource Manual and was awarded the UW-Stevens Point Excellence in Teaching Award in 2016.

Miles is most proud of his accomplishments within the horn studio and the orchestra at UWSP.

“We’ve been really successful in recruiting hard-working students,” Miles said.

Miles also spoke of the music department’s annual Senior of the Year Award and how more horn students have received that award than students of any other instrument, which is something he is deservedly proud of.

The orchestra’s achievement of playing Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9” last November was the final note Miles made on his most gratifying experiences while working at UWSP. Miles characterized the symphony as being one of the biggest things an orchestra can do.

He said, “[The students] just launched themselves into it. It was really rewarding, and the performances were just spectacular.”

Professor and Coordinator of Strings Steven Bjella, and coworker for about 25 years said, “He has a wonderful ability to look at the big picture. His passion for orchestral repertoire is shared to his colleagues and, even more importantly, his students.”

Rachel Harder, senior instrumental music education major, who has worked with Miles in classes and the studio, said, “[Miles] is like a music dad. He’s built this huge community of musicians where we can thrive and make music together, and it’s a great thing to be a part of.”

Miles conducted a show on Friday, and the performance by UWSP’s Symphony Orchestra included guest appearances from four of Miles’s former horn students as well as Miles’s brother Daniel. Miles and his orchestra received thundering applause and a standing ovation at the close of the performance. The orchestra members also gifted Miles with a card, a photo, and a stuffed bear to show their appreciation for his work.

In his retirement, Miles is looking forward to riding his bike, working on his gardening skills and spending more time with his wife.

“He will absolutely be missed, and he’s done a fantastic job,” Bjella said. “I wish him all the best in his next chapter.”

Miles is also the conductor of the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, a regional professional orchestra and plans to continue this in his retirement.

Miles said, “It’s been a great gig. I’m really happy that this is where I’ve been.”

Shelby Steinke

Contributor

sstei503@uwsp.edu

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