Premiering Compositions

It is always such an honor to premier a new composition. I have been fortunate enough to have been apart of two (2) groups premiering new works in the last six (6) months.

First was a band arrangement by composer Benjamin Dean Taylor entitled “The Hope Within.” This work was premiered by The WindEnsemble of the University of the Incarnate Word under conductor Brett Richardson.

FROM THE PROGRAM NOTES:

“The Hope Within” (2016) was a commissioned work by the University of the Incarnate Word Wind Ensemble. This work was done in memory of the conductor’s mother, Becky Bailey Richardson (1952-2016) who lost her life after a tragic battle with depression. The composer writes, “While sitting at the piano one day sketching material for this piece, I found myself in tears as I reflected upon the difficulties and hardships in my own life and the lives of family members and friends close to me. Addiction, abuse, the unexpected death of a young child, financial stress, depression, infidelity – all of us are going through hard things, real things, things that seem impossibly hard to get through on our own. I offer this composition as my testimony that the Master Healer can and will “bind up the brokenhearted” (Isaiah 61:1). My hope rest on His power, grace and love. I pray that each of us can find peace and solace, even in hard times, as “partaker(s) of his hope” (1 Corinthians 9:10)

REMEMBER: IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE COMBATING DEPRESSION OR CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE, PLEASE SEEK OUT MORE INFORMATION AT –

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – ww.afsp.org
Texas Suicide Prevention – http://www.texassuicideprevention.org.

 

PSALM 23
I Shall not Want

This work is written by HEATHER SORENSON and the dedication reads: To Mary McKay, Director of Traditional Worship, University United Methodist Church, for over 25 years of love and dedication to the Music Ministry. Mary is a dear friend of mine and a wonderful, loving, dear person. When I decided to start playing trumpet again she was kind enough to let me play in her orchestra at University United Methodist Church. That gave me the confidence to start playing again, something I had put on the back burner while I started my career and family. Thank you Mary.

The piece will be premiered during service Sunday, September 24th at the University United Methodist Church by the Orchestra and Chancellor Choir.  This is a great group of performers and I have been lucky enough to perform with them off and on for the last 10 years. At one time my daughter performed with us which was so very special for me. I have performed on at least 2 or their recordings, and through many special programs. This is such a great group of talented performers. I am excited and looking forward to the premier tomorrow morning.