Reasons for a Commission
When you commission, sometimes it’s good to have a reason that you can publicize.
Commissioning
Why To Commission
There are lots of reasons to commission new works. Or maybe there’s only one.
Never Gets Old
At what point in the career of a composer does it get old to hear your music performed?
Five Reasons To Commission New Music
A core of my musical philosophy is around commissioning new music. Here are five reasons I think commissioning music is worthwhile for any music conductor. 5. It’s important for furthering the art! Your commission might be the next piece everyone is singing or playing – moving the community forward. 4. […]
Composition Demos
I don’t play sequenced compositional demos for my students. Honestly, I don’t much listen to notation output for assessment purposes anymore. I’d rather audiate the score or hear it through my own fingers at the piano. I do appreciate it when composers send them to me – it’s a great […]
2 Commission Spots Available
Happy almost-end of the school year! I’m celebrating by looking ahead to next school year/concert year; aren’t you? Commissioning is, I believe, one of the most powerful ways of impacting both future musicians and the future of music. I’ve written plenty about that here. I have just two slots left […]
Aces World Premiere 2023
This concert will be one for the memory books. One of the things I’m most excited about for Friday’s Rockford Aces 15th Anniversary Concert is a world premiere. With the help of the Rockford Education Foundation and the Rockford Choir Boosters, The Aces were able to commission a brand new […]
Music Central To The Experience
I don’t have any feelings at all about Coronations, Weddings, or other British royal events. But let’s have more events where music – and specifically new music – is central to the experience. Reports are that there were twelve new commissions for the King Charles III’s Coronation today. That’s a […]
Second Performances
An overlooked part of the a commissioning party’s job comes after the premiere. So many wonderful commissioned works disappear into filing cabinets after their premieres. And whether a piece has a life depends a lot on it finding a second performance, a second performing ensemble, after that premiere. So I […]
Looking Forward
Do you balance looking backward and looking around with looking forward? “Just keep moving onAnything you doLet it come from youThen it will be newGive us more to see” from “Move On” in Sunday In The Park With George (music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim) “When I say ‘what’s next?’ […]