When the Moscow Symphony came to Westminster, one Carroll Community College student got a once-in-a-lifetime phone call.

Lauren Stallings was thinking about her final exam in Music Theory III. She was dreaming about the fact that in just a few weeks, she would graduate from Carroll Community College and board a plane for the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, where she would pursue a double major in music and psychology.

She was well aware of the Moscow Symphony’s upcoming performance, but she never dreamed she would be part of it. Until she got the callÉ

“There aren’t enough percussionists,” explained Elijah Wirth, director of the college’s music program. “The music selections call for four percussionists and they have two. You might need to play tomorrow night.”

And sure enough – after her music theory exam ended at 12:30 p.m., Lauren went to a “nerve wracking,” “thrilling,” “do-or-die,” four-hour rehearsal, followed by a performance with the Moscow Symphony on Saturday, December 13.

“Rehearsal was the biggest challenge,” said Stallings. “There was no time between pieces to get ready. Whatever the symphony musicians didn’t pick up in 30 seconds, I grabbed and played. The concert felt like any other concert, but the rehearsal took my breath away.”

An accomplished musician who started playing the timpani (kettledrums) when she was 14 years old, Lauren Stallings found Carroll County a great source of teachers and playing opportunities. She attended Carroll County Public Schools until she completed East Middle School. After that, she was home schooled.

In addition to the timpani, she loves playing wood blocks, cymbals, the xylophone and a variety of accessory percussive instruments.

Percussionist Jon Seligman, one of Stallings’ teachers and mentors who was also called upon to play that night, says her talent is fueled by what he describes as “innate ability, drive and courage.”

“Lauren is confident,” he said. “She has never been afraid to step out and put herself on the line,” Seligman said. “A successful percussionist has to have that courage. When percussionists make mistakes, everyone knows it.”

Stallings will remember her performance with the Moscow Symphony as one of those perfect moments; a once-in a lifetime experience.

“Even if I never do anything else,” she said, “It’s great to know that I got to sub for a professional symphony when I was 18. It felt so good.”
-L.M.B.