Summer "Break"
This summer has been a whirlwind of musical activity. Although I have not been at school, I have been more than busy at home in Texas writing a number of new works. My focus has been primarily on my upcoming trombone concerto, The Beginning of Spring, which I am hoping to have complete in late 2019 or early 2020 (and of which I will talk about more in the coming months), but there are several other projects that are in the works as well, including a saxophone ensemble piece and a saxophone quartet + string quartet piece. It’s been a hell of a ride to write this much music (especially so much for saxophone??).
There have also been several fun things involving existing music of mine! On July 4th, my brass fanfare Young Voices received its world premiere by the Dallas Winds brass and percussion at their Star Spangled Spectacular concert. Having music of mine played by the Dallas Winds was a dream come true, and, after a school year in Illinois, it was a pleasure to come together once again with my friends in the Winds and hear them perform. My wind ensemble work O rose of May is no longer under consortium exclusivity as of August 1st, and is now available for purchase through Murphy Music Press! It’s been wonderful to work with Sean Murphy and have this work of mine be a part of MMP’s prestigious catalogue.
Speaking of Murphy Music Press- my saxophone quartet work Drive, which is also available through Murphy, is receiving its world premiere tonight! The work is one of the first place winners of the Donald Sinta Quartet’s composition competition, and the astonishingly skilled gentlemen of DSQ will be performing it tonight at their annual new music concert at the Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor. I cannot overstate my excitement!!
If you’re reading this on the night of the premiere, you can go to the DSQ’s Facebook page to catch a livestream of the concert shortly before it starts at 8pm eastern. If you can’t watch, be on the lookout for a recording to come soon after. Either way, enjoy the music!
- H