Steven Bryant

The original version of Dusk, commissioned by the Langley High School Wind Symphony, Andrew Gekoskie, conductor, was premiered by that group at the MENC National Convention in Minneapolis, MN, in April, 2004. It was a commission I almost didn't take: this was my sixth work for full band in 14 months, while I was working full-time in the IT Department at Juilliard, and I just couldn't see how I...

I often make things on the side while composing - usually "electronica-ish tracks" - just for fun. It's a great way to keep the creativity going with absolutely no pressure. I've decided to share an assortment of these various experiments, side-projects, and (mostly) electronic creations. When I speak to composers, especially at universities, I usually remind them to still "play" and not get...

Lots going on this Fall! Two World Premieres (both for orchestra, both conducted by my amazing wife!) Shouting Defiance, adapted from Mvt. I of Pendulum, arranged for the Texas Region XIII Symphony Orchestra, Verena Mösenbichler - Bryant conducting Concerto for Trombone, Joseph Alessi and the Durham Medical Orchestra, Verena Mösenbichler - Bryant conducting Residencies 10/28 - 11/1:...

Commission Consortium Opportunity ($250) I will be writing a new 10-20 minute work for winds+electronics+potential other elements (lighting, etc.) to premiere at the CBDNA National Conference in February 2019, performed by the Arizona State University Wind Orchestra. This is an extremely affordable buy-in ($250), and will be less than the cost to rent the work once it’s released to the...

I’ve been incredibly fortunate in my compositional life of late, and wanted to briefly share a few things you might find interesting or relevant (especially if you're a band, orchestra, or choral nerd!). Upcoming premieres July 7, 2017: SATB choral work for the BBC Singers conducted by Eric Whitacre. July 18, 2017: Wind band suite for the National Intercollegiate Band at the Kappa...

Since 1995, I've been designing, coding, and maintaining my website myself, and it had grown into a byzantine mess of barely-working PHP and CSS held together with duct-tape and hope. Things like SoundCloud, YouTube videos, online shop, etc have all been bolted on Frankenstein-style over the years. Also, it was unusable on phones (the last redesign was in 2002!). Anyhoo, here's the new site,...

I wrote a concerto for Alto Sax and Wind Ensemble. (open http://www.concertoforaltosaxophone.com now if you want to listen while you read) It was inevitable - this was my instrument all through high school and undergrad., though now I only play very occasionally, usually in Austria with a community band there, and then only when there's beer involved (note: there's always beer involved in...

Last week, Kevin Geraldi and the UNCG Symphonic Band were kind enough to devote some time on a rehearsal to reading and recording The Machine Awakes for me, so now you have something other than the MIDI realization to listen to! Composers: I'm leaving the original MIDI version posted in hopes this will make for an instructive comparison between MIDI and real players, and makes for a nice...

My newest work for large ensemble and electronics, Solace, is now in rehearsals at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Yesterday was the first rehearsal with electronics, and the first time I've gotten to hear the piece - always an overwhelming experience. The band sounded great, especially since it's still early in the process, yet. The electronics... worked. Mostly. For this piece,...

SHORT VERSION: Music education is important Writing "easy" music is hard Add electronics: The Machine Awakes, for young band + electronics, premieres this Thursday night, May 10th, at Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsboro, NC! Score and Recording (MIDI) MUCH LONGER VERSION: A vital component of my mission as a composer is music education. My father was a band director and...

THREE WORLD PREMIERES in Spring 2012: I'm fortunate to have yet another very busy season to kick off 2012, including the world premieres of three new works: FEBRUARY 19th (Ball State Univ.), MARCH 1st (ABA Convention), MARCH 16th (Orchestra Hall, Chicago): Paean: Chant and Triumph, a new work for the Ball State University Wind Ensemble in a consortium with John Hersey HS, Lockport Township...

My fellow composers and I have written a number of times about self-publishing vs. traditional publishing, covering everything from copyright to licensing to notation. However, I don't recall that we have actually demonstrated, in simple steps, the physical process of making of the paper product, so I shot a video here in my home studio/office to take any remaining mystery out of the...