Early Light is a vibrant and uplifting composition for wind ensemble, drawing its primary material from “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Rather than serving as a traditional patriotic tribute, the piece reflects Bremer’s personal connection to the national anthem, inspired by her lifelong passion for baseball. She sought to capture the joyful anticipation she felt hearing the anthem before games. Notably, a slapstick sound near the end of the piece mimics the crack of a bat hitting a home run, further emphasizing this theme.

Carolyn Bremer was an American composer and educator. She studied at the Eastman School of Music and received the Ph.D. in composition from the University of California Santa Barbara. She was chair of composition at the University of Oklahoma from 1991 to 2000 where she held the Sandra and Brian O’Brien Presidential Professorship. At the time of her death, Bremer was chair of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at the California State University, Long Beach.

She had been dubbed a composer “driven by hobgoblins of post modernist cant.” Bremer came to composition on the heels of intensive training as an orchestral bassist. Her catalogue contains works based on feminist symbolism (Athene), baseball (Early Light), and postmodern theory (Adventures in Hyperreality).

Conversations With the Night was commissioned by the Andrews, Texas, High School Band as a memorial to their friend and fellow musician, Jerry Don Belt. The piece is based on one of Jerry Don’s favorite hymns, When I See the Blood. There are several trombone solos in the work because that was Jerry Don’s instrument. The title for this work explains a lot about the organization of the piece and the motivation behind it. It stems from a conversation I had with Jerry Don’s parents in which they told me of his deep religious convictions, his love of people, his fascination with lightning, and his smiling face. In other words, they gave me a chance to get to know Jerry Don as much as I possibly could. The one thing that struck me the most in our talk was the fact that Jerry Don used to enjoy going for walks outside at night by himself. His mother then mentioned how she goes outside at night now to talk with him, because that is when she feels the closest to him. ‘Conversations With the Night is my reaction to how she must feel at times when she talks to him — feelings of pain, love, and, ultimately, peace.

Andrew Boysen, Jr. is an American composer, arranger, conductor, and educator. Boysen is a full professor in the music department at the University of New Hampshire, where he conducts the wind symphony and teaches conducting, composition, and orchestration. He maintains an active schedule as a composer, receiving commissions from festival, university, and high school concert bands across the United States.

Easter Monday on the White House Lawn. The scene of children rolling eggs outside the White House dates back to the Madison administration in 1816 and is continued today. Sousa, with the Marine Band, performed the work at the 1929 Egg Roll, recalling: “With the children rolling eggs, dancing, and romping, a scene of animation persists itself; the elders, from the President to the merest passerby, look on the scene with joy and pleasure.” The march itself is bubbly and vibrant, with the characteristic tunefulness of any Sousa march combined with a particularly demanding virtuosity, leaving nearly any audience member tapping their toe or humming its catchy melodies long after its conclusion.

John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor, best known for his military and patriotic marches. He was the son of a trombonist in the U.S. Marine Band, and at age 13, was enlisted as an apprentice in that same band, launching a lifelong career in music. Sousa served as conductor of the U.S. Marine Band from 1880 to 1892, transforming it into one of the finest military bands in the world. After leaving the Marine Band, he formed The Sousa Band, which toured internationally and performed thousands of concerts over four decades. Sousa composed 136 marches, including the iconic Stars and Stripes Forever, which was later designated the national march of the United States. He also wrote operettas, waltzes, and concert pieces, and was an early advocate for composers’ rights. His music continues to symbolize American patriotism and military tradition.

Annie is a beloved Broadway musical based on the classic comic strip Little Orphan Annie. Premiering in 1977, the show follows the spirited orphan Annie as she escapes the harsh conditions of a New York City orphanage, bringing optimism and joy to everyone she meets—including the wealthy Oliver Warbucks. Set during the Great Depression, Annie blends heartwarming storytelling with memorable songs like “Tomorrow” and “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” delivering a timeless message of hope, resilience, and the enduring power of found family.

Charles Strouse is an American composer and lyricist renowned for his work in musical theater. Strouse became one of Broadway’s most influential and prolific composers. He is best known for composing the music for iconic musicals such as Annie (1977), which includes the unforgettable song “Tomorrow,” and Bye Bye Birdie (1960), which was a major success and helped establish him as a leading figure in musical theater. His contributions to American music have earned him numerous awards, including Tony Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In Storm and Sunshine is one of the most enduring circus marches, or “screamers”. It is uncertain whether In Storm and Sunshine was created specifically for a circus but has nonetheless established itself as a circus favorite and stands as the best known of Heed’s sixty marches. The quick tempo and pounding rhythms are meant to accompany the chaos and thundering hooves of four-footed animals running into a circus arena instead of the steady, regimented pulse of men marching. Presumably, the title refers to minor and major modes, hence the “storms” and the “sunshine.”

John Clifford Heed was an American composer and musician, best known for composing over 60 marches. ​Born in Hackettstown, New Jersey, Heed began his musical career with the Hackettstown Cornet Band by the age of 11. By 17, he was leading the band and had mastered harmony, counterpoint, piano, violin, and most band instruments. Heed played cornet for Voss’s First Regiment Band in Newark, New Jersey, and joined John Philip Sousa’s band as a soloist and arranger. Heed’s notable compositions include “In Storm and Sunshine,” “Regimental Pride,” and “The Rouser.”

Morning Alleluias was commissioned by Frederick Fennell. It was premiered by the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra on May 14, 1989 with Fennell conducting. The work begins in an ethereal mood consisting of singing, trombone glissandi, and meditative inflections (aleatoric rhythms). Above this rises a hymn-like progression in the flutes and later the clarinets. Halfway through the tempo becomes twice as fast with incessant eighth notes in the piano and percussion. The faster section contains two Japanese inspired tunes, a powerful one heard in the brass and then a more subdued one in the woodwinds.

Ron Nelson was a distinguished American composer and conductor, renowned for his contributions to classical and popular music. Born in Joliet, Illinois, Nelson pursued his musical education at the Eastman School of Music, earning his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in composition. In 1956, Nelson joined the faculty of Brown University, where he served until his retirement in 1993. Throughout his career, he composed commissioned works for esteemed organizations, including the National Symphony Orchestra and the Rochester Philharmonic, and received accolades such as the Medal of Honor from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. Nelson’s versatility as a composer allowed him to seamlessly blend traditional and contemporary styles, earning him recognition as a quintessential American composer.

Nessun Dorma is the iconic tenor aria from Giacomo Puccini’s final opera, Turandot, completed posthumously in 1926. Sung by the character Calaf in Act III, the aria captures a moment of quiet yet powerful resolve as he awaits the dawn, confident that he will win the heart of the icy Princess Turandot by solving her riddles. The phrase “Nessun dorma” (“None shall sleep”) refers to Turandot’s command that no one in the kingdom may rest until Calaf’s identity is discovered. With its soaring melody and triumphant climax—culminating in the resounding “Vincerò!” (“I will win!”)—the aria has become one of the most celebrated pieces in all of opera, immortalized by legendary tenors such as Luciano Pavarotti. Its blend of lyrical beauty and dramatic intensity exemplifies Puccini’s gift for expressing deep emotion through music.

Giacomo Puccini was one of the most celebrated Italian opera composers of all time, known for his lush melodies, dramatic intensity, and unforgettable characters. Born in Lucca, Italy, into a family of musicians, Puccini studied at the Milan Conservatory and quickly rose to fame with works that became staples of the operatic repertoire. His best-known operas include La Bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot—each showcasing his gift for emotional storytelling and orchestral color. Blending Italian lyricism with influences from verismo and exoticism, Puccini’s music continues to captivate audiences around the world for its beauty, depth, and theatrical power.

Give Us This Day: A Short Symphony for Wind Ensemble is a powerful and deeply reflective two-movement work that explores themes of struggle, peace, and spiritual renewal. The title, taken from the Lord’s Prayer, suggests a plea for mindfulness and strength in the face of life’s challenges. The first movement is contemplative and introspective, marked by lyrical melodies and a sense of searching, while the second movement bursts forth with rhythmic energy and intensity, culminating in a cathartic and uplifting conclusion. Like much of Maslanka’s music, this piece is infused with a spiritual dimension and a sense of emotional honesty, inviting listeners to engage deeply with both the music and themselves. It is a staple of contemporary wind ensemble repertoire, known for its expressive range and profound impact.

David Maslanka was a prolific American composer renowned for his significant contributions to wind ensemble literature. Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, he pursued studies at the Oberlin Conservatory, the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and Michigan State University. Maslanka’s extensive body of work includes over 150 compositions, notably eight symphonies for concert band, more than 15 concertos, a full Mass, and numerous chamber and choral pieces. His music is characterized by rhythmic intensity, melodic richness, and a deeply spiritual and emotional depth, often drawing inspiration from nature, dreams, and meditation. Maslanka’s works have been performed worldwide and have become staples in the wind ensemble repertoire, leaving a lasting impact on contemporary concert music.