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Sharing a Dream: Twin Brothers Prepare for Career in Music
Most parents will admit that they've often wondered if their children's earliest interests would shed light into the adults they would later become. Would a fascination with planes suggest a future pilot was testing his wings? Would a budding architect reveal her talents with building blocks? Would the finger-painted masterpiece adorning the refrigerator belong to one of tomorrow's celebrated artists? David and Darlene St. Romain were given a sneak peek into their identical twins' musical futures when their sons were just toddlers playing a toy piano. The boys, Darnell and Darrell, were so young that they don't even remember the exact moment, but the story that their family has shared time and time again makes it one they are unlikely to forget. Darlene said her sons were just 18 months old when they first displayed their talents. The toy piano was a favorite of the boys, but they surprised everyone when they began plucking the notes to "Happy Birthday To You" and familiar songs from their Sunday School class. "We weren't sure if it was anything at first," Darlene said, "but then we started asking each other, 'Did you hear that?'" The small family audience did hear correctly, and Darnell and Darrell have been studying, practicing, and performing music almost ever since. Back then, the brothers played simple songs on a simplified instrument. After more than 15 years of dedicated practice and commitment, their preferences include Johann Sebastian Bach's works for the pipe organ. Today, the St. Romain twins are in their third year of undergraduate study in organ performance at LSU's School of Music. Their education lies in the masterful hands of Professor Herndon Spillman, an internationally renowned performer and scholar and the driving force behind the University's curriculum in organ performance. Although they sing the praises of LSU now, Darnell and Darrell said LSU was not part of their original plans. Change of Plans
Having grown up in Baton Rouge, Darnell and Darrell were looking forward to pursuing their college educations and embarking on new adventures out of state, but fate would encourage them to stay. "We applied, were accepted, and received scholarships to study at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa under Professor Warren Hutton," said Darnell, but Professor Hutton died before the St. Romain brothers could begin their studies with him. "I must say that LSU was not my first choice; however, it was one of my top choices. What lured me here was the high quality of the musical performances I heard while I was a senior in high school," said Darrell, who added that he was also impressed by the qualities of the faculty. "Our teachers are from some of the best schools in the country—Juilliard, Eastman School of Music, and Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music," Darrell continued. "In the College of Music & Dramatic Arts, there are extraordinary professors. The way Dr. [Jeff] Perry relates theory to his students with his dry sense of humor, the guidance and teaching techniques of Dr. Spillman, and Dr. [Sara Lynn] Baird, the woman who can solve all of your problems and concerns. These are just a few of the great teachers LSU has to offer." But clearly, Professor Spillman has had the most significant influence on the brothers. Learning from a Master
Spillman has championed the University's organ program for the past 28 years. Prior to his career at LSU, he studied under the French contemporary composer and organist Maurice Duruflé and renowned organist Marie-Claire Alain. In addition to gaining international recognition for his interpretations of Duruflé's work, Spillman has also earned admiration and respect from his students, including the St. Romain brothers. "To study with Dr. Spillman, who is considered an authority on the organ music of Maurice Duruflé, is a possibility only offered at LSU," Darrell said. Darnell echoed his brother's sentiments, describing Spillman as both an amazing professor and a wonderful performer. "He has a way of teaching the student not just to play the music, but to feel the music," said Darnell. "To Dr. Spillman, it is not about playing the organ. It's about expressing what the composer wants to say." Community Partnerships Spillman is only the third faculty member in the organ program's 50-year history at LSU, and for most of that time the curriculum has survived without a concert-quality instrument on campus. Years ago, the University had an organ in the Shaver Theatre of the Music & Dramatic Arts Building, but the instrument was destroyed in a hailstorm during the 1960s. At the time, the Shaver Theatre had sky lights. The storm was so severe that it damaged the skylights, and the instrument was ruined by the rain and hail. Even without a concert-quality instrument on campus, the program survived by relying on partnerships with various churches in the Baton Rouge community. Today, Professor Spillman and his students use the facilities at First United Methodist Church in downtown Baton Rouge for a total of 10 hours per week. "We would never have been able to carry this program without First Methodist," Spillman said. "They've been very sympathetic to the organ program, and I am grateful for the generosity of the church and their patience." The twins' weekly hour-long lessons at First Methodist are hardly enough time for a student to prepare a recital, which Spillman said requires about approximately 25 to 30 hours of preparation. So in addition to their weekly practices with the concert organ, Darnell and Darrell can be found using the noticeably smaller practice organ in the basement of the Music & Dramatic Arts Building. Orchestrating LSU's Next Masterpiece
"Other organ programs around the country are folding. We need to get the ball rolling with a new instrument," said Spillman, adding that LSU was struggling to compete with universities such as Rice and Texas Tech, which both have impressive on-campus organ facilities. "This facility will provide a concert instrument on campus and a much-needed facility on campus," he added. "Not only will the pavilion have a significant instrument for the organ degree program, it will also serve as a hall for chamber music and choral performances." Cary Byrd, director of development and alumni relations for the School of Music, addressed the numerous possibilities the new facility would create. "For our organ performance students, this will be the first time in probably 30 to 40 years that they have had a place on campus to practice with each other and to perform in a world-class venue," Byrd said. "And for our other students, they will be able to hear brass pieces performed as the composer intended. All of our students will be able to perform and hear performances 'the way it's supposed to be.' To a performer, the space you perform in is almost as critical as the condition of your instrument." In addition to the concert organ and the 250-seat recital hall, the pavilion will also have a teaching wing and practice facilities, all of which Byrd said could improve the school's status. "The National Association of Schools of Music, our accreditation agency, has always given us extraordinary marks in terms of our faculty and our academic programs, but less-than-great marks in terms of our facilities," he said. "Our current recital hall in the School of Music Building is wonderful, but it's at maximum capacity at 400 recitals a year." Byrd also added the acoustics of the current facility were more appropriate for solo performers than for ensembles. "If you go to see a string quartet, you hear two violins, a viola, and a cello, but there's not enough time and space in the current facility for those sounds to merge into one giant creature, one homogenous sound," he said. The new pavilion will be a powerful resource for the local music community as well. "This will have a tremendous impact on the local community. There's nothing in the Baton Rouge area like this, nothing in the state like this. These installations are few and far between," Spillman continued, adding that the University of Kansas and Rice University have facilities similar to what LSU has planned, but LSU's "will eclipse anything we have seen nationally." The School of Music has already received contributions for the multi-million dollar facility, which will be privately funded. The current plans position the new structure near the corner of Dalrymple Drive and Infirmary Road, adjacent to the south side of the School of Music Building. Both Spillman and Byrd both said the finished project is still years away. "Even if we had the money in tow, we would need two years to complete the construction of the organ and another one to two years to complete the building construction," Spillman said. The Bright Future Ahead As for Darnell and Darrell's future, the sky seems to be limit. Through their hard work, dedicated commitment, and Spillman's self-described "rigorous teaching strategies," they have both reached new heights in their music careers, though not the same heights. While Darnell said he excels in the technical aspects of the performance, Darrell said his strength was in the artistic side. Both agreed they could become one of the greatest organists if only they could merge into one, but as individuals, Darrell and Darnell have several reasons to be proud. "Music has been a major part of my life," said Darrell, "and coming to LSU has made most of my musical goals come to pass." "[Professor Spillman] has and still is preparing me for a career as a concert organist and also as a music teacher," said Darnell. "I can't believe how far I have come since I started working with him." Contact Teresa Devlin | LSU
University Relations Related Links LSU School of Music |
Unlike most degree programs on campus, the organ performance curriculum has one faculty member, and the students work closely with that professor for the duration of their undergraduate studies. 
Spillman said he believes the College of Music & Dramatic Arts' proposed plans for the new on-campus music pavilion, which would house a first-class concert organ, could spell significant change for the program, the School of Music, and the local community. 
