For more than a year Timothy Roy focused his creative energy on what was a dream come true for the young composer—composing an entire Mass.
Roy first became interested in composing a Mass when he was 12. Reverend Monsignor Dan Malain, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo, Nederland, was a bit surprised when the young man asked for the Latin text of the Mass.
It was Deacon Bronson Havard, Catholic chaplain at Southern Methodist University, who approached Roy and wanted to hear some music he had composed. After hearing Roy’s work, Deacon Havard asked if he would write the music for the Mass that would commemorate 75 years of Catholic campus ministry at SMU.
The Mass was celebrated April 3 by Bishop Kevin Farrell of the Diocese of Dallas in the Perkins Chapel on the campus of SMU.
“It has been a true honor,” Roy said. “I have always considered composing for Mass to be one of the highest achievements I could reach.”
Roy is a lifelong member of St. Charles where he was an altar server, master of ceremonies, and music director for the Saturday evening Mass.
He was extensively involved in activities in high school. He was in Ned & Company at Nederland High School for four years and he was also on the varsity tennis team for four years. He was president of the National Honor Society and salutatorian of the class of 2005.
“My Catholic faith has always been the backbone of my life,” Roy said. “I wanted to underscore the meaning of the sacred liturgy with the music. I reflected on each line of text from the ordinary of the Mass and decided what kind of mood, harmony and atmosphere would be best.”
Recently, Roy was awarded the Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award by the Meadows School of Music at SMU. This is the top award given by Meadows and its selection of Roy as the recipient was based largely on his outstanding achievement in composing the Mass and bringing the project to fruition. He was solely responsible for the selection of the singers and musicians, arranging and overseeing rehearsals and more.
Roy is currently pursuing his undergraduate degree in music theory and composition. After graduation he plans to attend graduate school and ultimately earn a doctorate. He is interested in composing, conducting, and perhaps teaching at the university level. This summer he will study abroad in Weimar, Germany, where he will take a graduate level course in conducting along with other studies.
“Dann and I have always believed that Timothy would accomplish whatever he set out to do,” said his mother, Christine Roy. “He has always had such determination. He began taking piano lessons when he was 9 and was composing from the start.”
