The rhythmic clanging of the printing press and the irregular banging in the sign shop have given way to the sound of music on East Walnut Street in downtown Troy.

On Tuesday night there was a packed house at the renovated “music hall” that has served many other purposes over the years.

“The Cultural Arts Studio opened in 2005 with no heating or air conditioning and look at it now,” said Wiley White, development director of the Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center, which sponsors the “Concerts at the Studio” along with the Troy University John M. Long School of Music. “

There’s not a seat in the house and it’s exciting to be a part of such an event.”

The event was the first in the 2009-10 Concerts at the Studio series and it was great beginning.

The concert was actually a Troy University Student Ensemble Showcase and featured the Troy University Saxophone Quartet No. 1 with Ray Smith; the Sunday Afternoon Jazz Combo, Melvin Burks, director; Troy University Trumpet Ensemble, Dr. James Zingara, director; the Troy University Clarinet Choir, Dr. Timothy Phillips and Donna Flowers, directors; and the Southeast Alabama Brass Company.

The concert opened with Fanfare for a New Theater featuring Zingara and Daniel Arute and the opening musical selections included two Debussy pieces, “The Little Shepard” and “Golliwog’s Cakewalk” and Marvin Gay’s “Mr. T.”

Other selections were “Here’s That Rainy Day,” “Greensleeves,” “Fast Walk,” “Contrapunctus IX,” “Mr. P.C.,” “Earthscape,” and “Ruby.”

“It was an outstanding concert and we are looking forward to the other four concerts that we have planned,” White said.

“The next concert will be our Christmas Concert on Dec. 15 and will feature the Youth Orchestra under the direction of Ginger Zingara.

It will be a wonderful way to celebrate the season.”

All “Concerts at the Studio” are free and open to the public.

The Studio usage fee for the 2009-10 “Concerts at the Studio” series is sponsored by Corley “Brother” Chapman, Jr. in memory of Mr. Herman Moll, famed director of bands in Troy.