Creating an original work for your concert band can be a dramatic way to energize the school year. Commissions can be used to mark a specific occasion, such as the graduation of a particular class, construction of a new facility, retirement of a beloved teacher, as well as to facilitate musical goals. Recently, we have created original compositions for the second or even third band at a given school. By working closely with the director, we were able to focus the composition to meet specific musical goals for the ensemble. The students took a great deal of pride and ownership in "their" piece, and practiced harder than ever.
Depending on the time of year, original compositions can be created for your band as quickly as 4–6 weeks. The goal is to tailor-make the composition to fit the instrumentation, technical skill, and musical strengths of your band. YOUR piece should sound good when played by YOUR band! Due to the nature of the music publishing business, publication of your commission will be sought but cannot be guaranteed.
In many cases, the air of festivity surrounding the premiere of a new piece can be enhanced by inviting the composer to appear as a guest conductor. We would be happy to discuss the option with you, subject to schedule availability.