UMass Boston

Rebecca Roesler joins Performing Arts Faculty, plans a celebration of Tolkien on The Lord of the Rings film anniversary

The Recital Hall will delve into a sort of musical Middle Earth this fall, as the new Conductor for the UMass Boston Orchestra plans a J.R.R. Tolkien tribute in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the launch of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

Rebecca Roesler, PhD, takes the baton as the new permanent conductor of the Orchestra and Director of Music Education in the Performing Arts Department. The fall concert, scheduled for November 20, will use the film score as a “jumping off point” to examine a turbulent period in history, music that influenced, and was influenced by, the author of The Lord of the Rings novels.

Rebecca Roesler, UMass Boston's new permanent conductor

“I often teach prospective educators a principle: start with what is familiar,” Roesler said, “then reach beyond and come to know the surroundings and influences.”

“Lord of the Rings, the soundtrack, will act as a gateway into the turbulent, pivotal period of the world's history in which Tolkien lived. We’ll hear music of Tolkien’s day, including Gaelic traditions and compositions by suffragette Ethel Smyth, Gustav Holst, and Gustav Mahler, many of which influenced Howard Shore’s film score.”

“One concert will hardly be enough to do justice to Tolkien's life, times, and work, such as the complex racial and gender challenges, even contradictions, within his writing,” she said. “But we’ll audaciously set out to try!”

Roesler joins UMass Boston most recently from Brigham Young University-Idaho, and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in orchestra, studio violin, chamber music, rehearsal techniques, and music cognition at Boston University, and the University of North Texas. She received her Ph.D. in Music and Human Learning from the University of Texas at Austin.

She takes the baton of the UMass Boston Orchestra following Ryan Noe, visiting assistant professor in music for the 2025-2026 academic year. Prior to Noe, Sommer Forrester served as conductor from 2015 through 2025, a period where the Orchestra grew in both membership and audience. A true “community” orchestra, it is comprised of not just students, but faculty, staff, and musicians from the Greater Boston area.

Roesler attended Forrester’s last concert at UMass Boston, and understands she’s joining an orchestra deeply connected to the community.

“I was so impressed by not only the ensemble's expressive and energetic music-making, but especially with the sense of joy and connection among members of the ensemble and with the audience,” she said.

“What I sensed then aligns with my own philosophy,” she said. “Music is about connection and community. My vision for the orchestra is to continue that wonderful legacy, and to expand our reach. I hope we can offer a place of gathering for the campus community—for members of the ensemble at each rehearsal, and for audiences at performances.”

Over time, Roesler is contemplating expanding the orchestra’s reach in the broader community, and will look to explore a broad range of musical styles beyond what musicians and audience members expect.

The first order of business though, is looking forward to meeting the musicians who comprise The UMass Boston Orchestra, and meet new ones, as the audition process is still open. Students of all majors, faculty and staff, can submit an audition video to musictech@umb.edu. More information on auditions can be found at the link: https://umb.campusgroups.com/events?group_ids=35604.