Steven Bryant

Last night, the Ohio State Symphonic Band under Rick Blatti gave a great (by all accounts I've heard) performance of Ecstatic Waters. I heard the dress rehearsal on Tuesday, which was fantastic, not just because they played the piece well, but because this is the first time I've ever been able to sit and listen to the entire work live without pressing buttons on the laptop. Big thanks to Pete...

The Texas State University Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Winds concert was last night, and both groups did a fantastic job. I let the professionals handle the conducting, except for the last of my pieces, Suite Dreams, for which I just couldn't resist taking the podium. The group played really, really well, and I think it all went over well with the audience, as well. :)

Now it's off to Ohio...

I'm heading back down to San Marcos for a full day of rehearsals and presentations to various classes. Rehearsals on Tuesday went *very* well - both groups sound great. The concert is tomorrow night at 8pm in Evans Auditorium on the TSU campus - come if you're in the area!

I'm pleased to serve as the 2009 Texas State University Dept. of Bands Visiting Artist this week. I'm heading down to San Marcos for rehearsals with the Wind Ensemble and the Symphonic Winds (Rod Schueller and Caroline Beatty, directors) today, and then will return for a full day of seminars, rehearsals, etc. on Thursday, and then Friday evening for the concert, featuring Radiant Joy, Suite...

V, JM, and I will head down to TMEA in San Antonio tomorrow morning for the Texas Tech and Baylor University concerts. Texas Tech is doing two movements of Mackey's Sax Concerto at noon, and Baylor will follow at 2pm, with Mvt. I the logic of all my dreams, from Alchemy in Silent Spaces. I heard Baylor last week at rehearsal, and again this morning in a pre-TMEA performance at Westwood HS...

Yesterday, I had the great pleasure to rehearse my Radiant Joy with the GDYO Wind Symphony. Conductor David Kehler invited me up to work with the group, in preparation for their March 1st concert at the Eisemann Center, in Richardson, TX. I admit I was a bit nervous - this is my first time to conduct Radiant Joy, but the band played wonderfully, and forgave me for getting lost a couple of...

Off to Baylor University today to hear the Wind Ensemble rehearse Alchemy in Silent Spaces, Mvt. I. They are performing the work several times next week, culminating in their TMEA performance on Thursday at 2pm. I heard them do a fantastic job on this piece last Spring under the baton of H. Robert Reynolds, and have no doubt they'll give several more fine performances under their director,...

Had a great time in SF and San Jose working with the Honor Band at the CMEA Bay Section Conference, as well as with Ted Ferrucci's High School Wind Ensemble in Los Altos. Sincere thanks to Ted Ferrucci for organizing this and being a great host, and to Mike Gomez for coming up with the idea to begin with (and for the great visit to Santa Cruz yesterday!). Pictures coming soon on Flickr!

I just did a short interview with Doug Brown for his new Wind and Rhythm radio show. On the previous shows, he's been discussing the new Dallas Wind Symphony Grainger CD, so he felt it would be fitting to discuss my ImPercynations. The show will be on this coming Sunday night (Jan. 11th) at 7pm CST. You can listen online here. Fortunately my speaking contribution is small, thus diminishing...

...is posted on the Ecstatic Waters page, in case you're interested.

Just in time for 2009, I've posted Ecstatic Waters on my Facebook page. Perusal score coming soon.

And if that's not enough for you, Salamander Studios has posted TWO new songs, Don't Get Angry and Mouth for your new year celebrations. Recorded last May, they're finally seeing the light of day. Details about each song are available on Salamander Studios' MySpace page, as well.

Happy and Healthy...

It is with great pleasure, surprise, and a smidgen of disbelief, that I announce that Suite Dreams has won the 2008 National Band Association / William D. Revelli Compostion Contest!