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Michael MIles, Acting Director of the USM Symphony, Speaks After Jay Dean
Ellen Ciurczak / American Hattiesburg

As the symphony orchestra of the University of Southern Mississippi plans its 99th season of concerts, new leaders take over, succeeding the famous Jay Dean who retired this year after 30 years ago, Dean brought legendary artists to the symphony and attracted many talented international students.

But now a new leader is listening : Michael Miles, former director ector of the music school for six years and associate director for four years. He intervenes as acting director of orchestral activities, while Dean remains as vice-dean of arts and external relations

How will the new leadership structure work? What will happen to the symphony orchestra? Here are five things that might surprise you.

1. How will Miles fill Dean's shoes?

He does not plan to do it.

"I can not be Jay Dean, but we can continue to have the quality program we have here and bring the world to Mississippi and provide our community with outstanding musical performances," Miles said. "No one is replacing Jay Dean, we are only looking to continue the excellence in our university orchestra that he so ably developed."

2. What is the biggest change Miles is considering?

Miles wants to make sure that academics are not a forgotten part of the goals of the orchestra. He plans to re-emphasize the educational mission of the symphony.

"We will focus on balancing the orchestra that still delivers excellent performance to our community and to our university, cultivating their academic progress," he said.

3. What does Miles think is the most important part of the symphony?

Miles said that there were a lot of moving parts to a symphony orchestra and having worked with Dean for 10 years, he saw how these parts move together. But he believes that there is one element that exceeds all others.

"The real focus must be on the students," he said. "They are the ones who make the music, and we have to make sure that they keep doing that."

4. How does Dean see his new role?

Dean is now looking at the big picture now.

"We will continue to work together so that music and all the arts succeed, not only for the university, but for the community," he said. "We are going to work in all artistic fields to make Hattiesburg the artistic destination of southern Mississippi."

5. Did Dean finish with the symphony orchestra?

Dean has a lot of special projects that he will be working on, but his heart still belongs to the South Miss Symphony Orchestra

"I'm sure that at some point, I'm going to drive something here, so I will still be very involved, "he said," I must have a creative outlet, really. "

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