Featured Composers for 2025–2026
J.W. Pepper proudly continues its support of a vibrant and diverse community of composers through the My Score platform, a powerful tool for independent publishers that enables individuals to share their original compositions with musicians and educators across the world’s largest sheet music network.
As we step into September 2025, we’re excited to highlight a new group of composers whose work reflects the creativity, passion, and dedication that define the My Score community. This month’s feature offers an inside look at their public profiles, showcasing their musical journeys, compositional styles, and recent publications available now at jwpepper.com.
Composer of the Month
Thomas Bough
Concert Band, Marching Band
Dr. Thomas Bough is an active conductor, arranger, composer, clinician, and adjudicator for concert band, marching band, and brass band, with dozens of appearances each year to his credit across the United States. His music is published by Alfred Music, Cimarron Music Press, and GPG Music. He serves as the Director of Athletic Bands and Wind Symphony Conductor at Northern Illinois University. His 33 years of teaching experience include seven years as a high school band director in Mesa, Arizona. As a Yamaha Artist and Denis Wick Ambassador, he leads dozens of clinics and workshops each year across the country.
Thomas joined the faculty of Northern Illinois University in the fall of 2005 as the Director of Athletic Bands. He also conducts the Wind Symphony and teaches graduate conducting and instrumental arranging. Bough holds MM and DMA degrees in tuba performance from Arizona State University, where he was a student of Sam Pilafian and Dan Perantoni. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in music education from Missouri State University, where he was active in both vocal and instrumental music.
Thomas has served as a frequent masterclass clinician and conductor for the Music for All Summer Symposium and the Music for All National Concert Band Festival for over 15 years. He has presented masterclasses at the Eastman School of Music, the Crane School of Music, Arizona State University, the University of Michigan, the University of Toledo, and UNC Greensboro, among many others. Bough has presented three times at The Midwest Clinic and twice at the U.S. Army Band Tuba-Euphonium Workshop as well as the International Society for Music Education Conference in Beijing, China, four NAfME multi-state regional conferences, the International Horn Society Symposium, and the International Women’s Brass Conference.
Be sure to check out Dr. Bough’s My Score profile for more information, a link to his website, and social media links!
Featured Compositions
