Program Note
Program Note
Originally composed as the dissertation for my doctoral studies, Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble began as a personal reflection on my own musical development. While rooted in my experiences, the piece aims to serve as a homage to the formative journeys undertaken by all musicians as they grow into their artistic identities. The concerto is structured in three connected movements—fast, slow, fast—that are performed without pause. Each movement presents its own distinct character and pacing. Together, they reflect different stages of growth and self-realization. The work reflects on the formative experiences that shape a musician's early career: moments of doubt, resilience, inspiration, and self-discovery.
At its core, the concerto explores how we define ourselves through the act of making music and how those definitions evolve through time and with the support of mentors and peers. The three movements are titled “If it is to be,” “it is up to…,” and “me.” This phrase not only anchors the work conceptually but also captures the spirit of personal responsibility and transformation that underlies the musical arc. Each movement introduces its own motivic material, and these motives return throughout the piece in altered forms. As they develop and shift, they create a retrospective through-line that allows the listener to hear how past musical ideas—and by extension, personal experiences—shape who we are in the present.
While the concerto includes moments of technical virtuosity, it remains grounded in expressive clarity and accessibility. It invites both performer and listener to consider the broader narrative of artistic growth, encouraging reflection on the challenges and influences that define each of our musical paths. This work was the winner of the Atlantic Coast Conference Band Directors Association James E. Croft Grant for Young and Emerging Wind Band Composers (2022–23) and a finalist in The ASCAP Foundation 2022 Morton Gould Young Composer Awards competition.
