Many thanks to Mr. Adam Keller and the Smoky Valley High School Symphonic Band for their recent performance of Hoopla, my latest work for band. Mr. Keller and Smoky Valley High School were part of the consortium of 10 schools that co-commissioned the work last summer, and I was thrilled to have such an historically strong Kansas band program be part of the commissioning. Check out their performance below! 

I'm excited to announce three consortium opportunities for the upcoming year! Each consortium has multiple buy-in levels that take into consideration budgets and time commitments to each project. Here is a brief overview of each. 

The first is a  multi-movement work for brass quintet will be released in early May of 2024. The total length will be around 10-12 minutes, and will explore various timbres and textures of the brass instruments. For ensembles that join early in the composing process, I would…

The consortium for The Waves and Winds Still Know has been moved down the calendar to the fall of 2024. This is for good reason, I was presented with a couple of last minute opportunities that I couldn't pass up! 

The registration is still posted here, but the dates have been changed to September 2024. Flute players, I would love to have you involved! 

I'm excited to share a consortium for a new flute work that I'll be working on! The Waves and Winds Still Know will be a new and colorful work for solo repertoire. Please share this with any flute players you may know! 

There are three commission levels available, for different budget and performance considerations. Click here to learn about the levels and the benefits that come with them. 

I'm happy to share a new consortium opportunity for a grade 3 band piece: Hoopla! 

There are two options available for joining the consortium:

• Level 1 - $250/ensemble
• Level 2 - $100/ensemble

Click here to learn more and to register! Please share!! Thanks!!

I'm excited to be putting together a commission consortium for a new SATB and piano anthem for Easter. Day of Wonder, Day of Gladness will be a perfect opener/call to worship/processional for Resurrection Sunday. While 4-part, much of the choral writing will be 2-part and even unison, so it will be easier to learn and put together. Choirs of all sizes will be able to perform this new work successfully! 

Only $75 to join. Click here for more info and to join the consortium! Thanks! 

I'm pleased to announce a consortium for new music! If you're unfamiliar with a consortium in the context of commissioning new music, it basically is a way of sharing a commission with other ensembles and performers. This benefits the musicians, as they don't have to carry the commission fee alone, and it benefits the composer, because he/she gets more performances! It's really a win-win. 

This consortium is for Incarnation, which will be for SATB choir and concert band. It will be a sacred Christmas work…

This past October, I had the privilege of conducting my new band piece Hope and a New Dawn with the Arlington Heights Community Concert Band (Arlington Heights, IL). They recently sent me a recording of the performance, which you can find here!

Hope and a New Dawn was the product of a consortium with five high school and community bands. If you or a director you know would be interested in co-commissioning a work or heading up a consortium for a new work, please let me know! 

Earlier this month I completed and delivered my newest concert band commission to the consortium members that funded it's creation. Hope and a New Dawn is a Grade 3/3+ piece for concert band, the piece was written to communicate a sense of optimism as we head into a post-covid world. No, we're not past it yet, but we will be, and when we get there, it will be an overwhelming time of reunion, joy, hope...but we will also have to remember and mourn what was lost. Through prominent melodies and driving…

I recently completed a piano setting of In the Bleak Midwinter, based on the tune CRANHAM by Gustav Holst. While the melody is clearly heard throughout, the surrounding textures create a sense of mystery. The piece was commissioned by a group of seven pianists, and I have included their names in the printed score, for posterity and out of gratitude. 

Click here to preview the piece! 

I'm grateful to the following band directors and schools for joining the consortium:

Mr. Bryan Wright 
Paschal High School (Fort Worth, TX)

Mr. Steve Willemssen 
Wheaton Academy (West Chicago, IL)

Mr. Chris Dandeles
Waubsonsie Valley High School (Aurora, IL)

Mr. Dan Braker
Thornapple Wind Band (Hastings, MI) 

Mr. Victor Anderson
Yorkville High School (Yorkville, IL) 

I'm so excited that we have groups from three different states involved!! 

I will deliver the piece to them on January 8, 2021. Hopefully…

I'm excited to announce that the Gentle Mary Laid Her Child consortium met the goal of 10 members, so the anthem will happen! Yay! 

Many, many thanks to the following commissioners who joined to form the consortium:

Bart Morrison
University Baptist Chruch (Houston, TX)

Brian Stranghoner
Tabor College (Hillsboro, KS)

Chris Winston
Immanuel Lutheran Church (Broken Arrow, OK)

Dennis Emerson
St. Michael Catholic Church (Bedford, TX)

James Cheesman
First Baptist Church of Farmersville (Farmersville, TX)

Laramie…

Consortium opportunity for Grade 2 Concert Band! Only $100 to join; includes score and parts (PDF delivery) and a 9-month premier window. Please feel free to share, and contact me with any questions.

You can join the consortium by clicking here. Thanks!!! 

Grade 2 and Grade 3 Consortium opportunities to commission new music for your band! 

On Wednesday, November 6, I went back to my old junior high in the Chicago suburbs for the premier of my newest band piece, Gateway Overture. Blackhawk Middle School (Bensenville, IL) and director Mr. William Winters commissioned the piece, which included some video chats with the students in order to get to know them and the kind of piece that would most interest them. I took suggestions, listened to pieces they previously enjoyed playing, and based most of my musical decisions off of their feedback. It…

My newest band piece Gateway Overture will be premiered on November 6th at Blackhawk Middle School in Bensenville, IL. Commissioned by Blackhawk and director of bands Mr. William Winters, this piece is the culmination of several months of planning, discussion, and video chats with students (and a lot of learning on my part on writing for younger band!).

The title of the piece comes from Bensenville's motto, "Gateway to Opportunity." I'm so grateful for this opportunity, not only to write a new piece for…

With the upcoming move (just days away....) I've decided to postpone my 2020 Band Consortium until I'm settled in to my new job and routine at Tabor College. I'll still keep the info up, and just change the dates, but right now the plan is to simply bump it back a year. 

But you can still sign up to be part of the consortium for next year! Click here to be taken to the registration form.

Thanks!

I'm happy to announce that the "Sussex Carol" consortium has been funded! The nine-member consortium is made up of the following directors and organizations:

• Dr. Ben Caston - Gambrell Street Baptist Church (Fort Worth, TX)
• Mr. Dennis Emerson - St. Michael Catholic Church (Bedford, TX)
• Dr. Lori Danielson - Northwest Bible Church (Fort Worth, TX)
• Mr. Chuck King - Trinity International University (Deerfield, IL) 
• Mr. Bart Morrison - University Baptist Church (Houston, TX) 
• Mr. Jonathan…

Church and school choir directors looking for some new Christmas music, I invite you to check out my consortium for a new setting of "Sussex Carol"  for SATB and piano. I'm using the website Consortio to handle all the administrative aspects of this consortium. Check out this link for more info and details. 

Please note, registration closes May 31st so sign up soon! 

Thanks!!!