"And the Cities Rise Like Dreams" Premiered in Nevada

This past weekend, the University of Nevada Concert Choir, Chamber Chorale, and Wind Ensemble premiered “And the Cities Rise Like Dreams,” a new 14-minute work commissioned to celebrate the university’s 150th anniversary.

I was able to be on campus for several days leading up to the premiere, and visited several rehearsals and provided feedback. It was a stunning performance in front of a packed concert hall, and I’m grateful to all those who helped bring the music to life! The day after the performance, we went into the studio and recorded the piece (the recording will be released this fall).

I was also able to work with the Nevada Concert Winds as they prepared for a concert of their own a couple of days prior to the premiere. They graciously included two works of mine on their program: Into the Silent Land and American Nocturne.

It was a fantastic visit!

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"American Nocturne" Named Finalist for 2023 Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Award

I’m honored that “American Nocturne” was named a finalist for this year’s American Bandmasters Association Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Award. Congrats to fellow finalist James David and this year’s winner, Andrew David Perkins.

I’m grateful to Alan Mills and the Rocky Mountain Commissioning Project for commissioning “American Nocturne” and for bringing the work to life. Thank you also to the consortium members listed below!

AMERICAN NOCTURNE

Commissioned by the Rocky Mountain Commissioning Project

for the 14th Annual Colorado State University Pueblo Festival of Winds

Liz Connor Kodadek, Apex Friendship High School, NC

Paula A Crider, Austin, TX

George and Colleen Eastman, Brighton, CO

Neil Guy, Cherokee Trail High School, CO

Dan and Kari Bell, Colorado Springs, CO

Alan W. Mills, Colorado State University Pueblo

Chad Dempsey, Edinburg North High School Band, TX

Ryan Lipscomb, Edwardsville High School, IL
Chris Barnes and Jake Opperman, Fond du Lac High School, WI

Shaun R. Popp, Henderson State University

Timothy McGarvey, Houghton College

Michael Berning, Kettering City Schools, Kettering, OH

Ted Ferrucci, Los Altos High School Bands, CA

Jackie Townsend, Lubbock Christian University

Jon Conrad, McLennan College, Waco, Texas

David Kish, Metropolitan State University of Denver

Doris Doyon, Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, CA

Adrian Holton, National Concert Band of America

Andrew Killgore, North Carolina

Raleigh "Butch" Eversole, Palmer Ridge High School, Monument, CO

David M. Blon, Purdue University

Amanda Kaus, Rochester Century High School, MN

Joseph Higgins, Rowan University

Jonathan Helmick, Slippery Rock University

Robert M. Schwartz, Southeastern Louisiana University

Jim Blankenship and Micah Ewing, Sycamore High School, OH

Carter Biggers, Texas Woman’s University

Timothy Kaiser, Tucson, AZ

Bill Tiberio, University of Rochester

John Oelrich, University of Tennessee at Martin

Justin Davis, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Alex Kaminsky, VanderCook College of Music NBA Collegiate Chapter

Michael Zens, Whitnall High School, WI

Edward F. Protzman, William Mason High School, OH

Patrick K. Carney, Winter Haven, FL

Bradley Faryniarz, Woodhaven High School Bands, MI

Premiere Performance

Colorado State University Pueblo

Hoag Recital Hall

Saturday February 12, 2022

CSU Pueblo Wind Ensemble

Alan W. Mills, Conductor

Just Finished! "Ancient Light" for the 2024 Oregon All-State Band

This week I finished “Ancient Light,” a new grade 4.5 piece commissioned by a consortium organized by the Oregon Band Directors Association. The piece will be premiered in January 2024 by the Oregon All-State Band, conducted by Jamie Nix.

The piece is inspired by the stunning photographs of deep space taken by the new James Webb Space Telescope. The Webb Telescope has the astounding ability to take photos of space as it appeared millions of years ago. Light that is truly ancient (hence the title of the piece) travels through space for millions of years to reach the Webb Telescope and it’s camera.

Musically, I tried to capture the speed and excitement of that light, and also the mysterious nature of deep space. I can’t wait to get the music in the hands of these outstanding young musicians! Preview the score and midi recording here.

*NOW AVAILABLE* Lamentation for Euphonium and Wind Ensemble

Lamentation for Euphonium and Wind Ensemble is now available - listen and purchase here.

The piece was commissioned in 2019/2020 by World-Wide Concurrent Premieres and Commissioning Fund, Inc. and premiered in February 2020 by the Sam Houston State University Wind Ensemble with Brian Gibbs, Conductor, and euphonium soloist SSG Irving Ray of the US Army Band “Perishing’s Own.”

In addition to the premiere at Sam Houston State University, the SHSU Wind Ensemble and Irving Ray took the piece on tour in February 2020 culminating in a memorable performance at TMEA.

The work was written in memory of Irving’s older brother Isaiah, who was also a euphoniumist who died tragically in 2006.

New "Festival Music" Recording [Video]

Check out this great new recording of Festival Music, performed by members of the Eastman Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Mark Scatterday.

"Elegy for the End of Nature" 🌎 Want to be a Project Partner?

During the past few months, I've been busily composing a 3-movement work for string orchestra and percussion on the topic of climate change, titled Elegy for the End of Nature.

I'm currently looking for Project Partners who are interested in co-premiering the piece. There is no commission fee - just the commitment to purchase the sheet music (at a discount) and perform the work. The music is grade 4, and several youth orchestras, colleges, and community orchestras have already signed on to the project.

I drew some inspiration from Vivaldi's concept for The Four Seasons, namely the idea of including a poem to accompany each part of the work. The poems included in Elegy for the End of Nature reflect on a particular aspect of climate change and continue the story told in Vivaldi's poem for Summer from The Four Seasons. If you are interested in reading more about the project and the music, click here.

A portion of all sales from Elegy for the End of Nature will be donated to advance climate technologies and policies. It's one small way that you and I can both do something to address this ever-growing crisis.

"Canon Fanfare" Now Available for Flex Instrumentation, Wind Band, Symphony Orchestra, or String Orchestra

At the end of December, I had an idea: what if the first piece I published in 2021 was a fanfare, a celebration of what will surely be a hopeful year for many? After everything we experienced in 2020, it would be a positive, hopeful piece to begin the New Year.

Out of this idea, “Canon Fanfare” was born. It’s just 2 minutes long, and after a brief opening section, a canon begins that builds to the climax of the work. I have created 4 versions of the piece: 8-part flexible instrumentation (plus optional percussion). wind band, symphony orchestra, and string orchestra. Listen, see inside the score and order here.