It is my pleasure to announce that Radiant Joy has won the 2007 National Band Association / William D. Revelli Compostion Contest!!
The official award ceremony is tonight - have to work up my acceptance speech... ;)
Labels: National Band Association, NBA, Radiant Joy, Revelli
Last night, I had the privilege to conduct the Bowie HS WInd Ensemble on my piece, "Dusk." They performed beautifully, especially considering the fact that we only had two rehearsals! It was wonderful to hear their entire concert - they play startlingly well, and I am honored that their director, Bruce Dinkins, invited me to be a part of their final concert of the Fall!
The horn section in particular rocked - solid, balanced, gutsy sound throughout the section:
I wish I'd gotten a picture of the whole band, but didn't manage to. So, imagine a great group of truly stellar high school musicians smiling at you!
Thanks again to Bruce and the staff at Bowie High School, and of course the band - I hope you all have a wonderful holiday, and perhaps we can work together again soon? ;)
I now have the recording from the First Light world premiere last weekend, and it's up for your listening pleasure (click "Listen" on the First Light page). It's very quiet at the beginning, so if you don't hear anything, turn your speakers up. Even better, use some good headphones.
An updated perusal score is also posted on that page - it much more accurately reflects the changes we made in rehearsals than the one I had previously.
Here's the band in the Eastman Theater (external window link - the band is too big to fit in this window...)
A big thank you again to everyone in the group!
Labels: First Light, New York All State, NYSSMA
Bruce Dinkins, director of bands at Bowie HS in Austin, has graciously invited me to conduct Dusk with his Wind Ensemble this Friday night, December 14th. I met the band last Thursday and we sight-read through the piece, and I have to say I was blown away. This band is good - they were making music from my first downbeat. I'll go over the piece again with them this Thursday morning, and that's it - who ever heard of a High School group putting a piece together in two rehearsals?
If you're in Austin, come down to Bowie High School Friday night. Concert starts at 7, I believe, and the wind ensemble is last on the program (there are other bands before them).
In other news, I finally have my laptop back, so I'll try to get some pictures up from my recent adventures in Seattle and Rochester. Right now, I must print up a box-load of Radiant Joy scores and sets for Shattinger Music - sounds like he's going all-out for Midwest this year...
Labels: Dusk, Midwest, Radiant Joy
Returned late Sunday night from snowy Rochester, NY, after a wonderful weekend and fantastic premiere of "First Light" by the New York All-State Symphonic Band. Unfortunatly, I'm still without a computer, so no pictures yet. Ray Cramer led the band in the premiere, and the band really rose to the challenge on all their pieces. They were especially forgiving of the numerous and continuous changes I was making throughout the weekend, and I'm truly pleased with the performance. I should have a recording shortly (certainly before Midwest in two weeks!).
I also spent some time with the young composers in attendance at the conference, and heard some striking talent in both the acoustic and electronic realms. It was a pleasure to meet all of you - keep making music, regardless of whether it's an avocation or a hobby!
I hope to have pictures of this and my Seattle trip with Langley HS from a couple of weeks ago in the near future.
To Ray Cramer, Michael Salzman, Dan Deutsch, Herb Deutsch, James Cassara, Rob and Lori Deemer, the Eastman performers who played Loose Id on Friday, and of course the Symphonic Band - thanks again for making this past weekend at NYSSMA so great!
Labels: First Light, New York All State, NYSSMA
