My Score Spotlight—August 2025

Symphonic Mountain Fantasy for Concert Band

by Trenton Rhodes 

This is an excellent piece for reduced instrumentation at a medium level. A singular melody presented in the beginning is taken to completely different places and tonalities throughout the work. The melody rises and falls in ways that resemble mountainous terrain far in the distance, which is where the title originates. This piece was chosen as the winner of the 2025 Association of Concert Bands and John Philip Sousa Foundation Composition Contest.

Visions of Tomorrow for String Orchestra

by Adrian Gordon

Inspired by the light and architecture of Auerbach Hall at Providence Day School, this piece captures the wonder, imagination, and spirit of learning. Commissioned to commemorate the building’s opening, the music mirrors the journey from quiet beginnings to soaring heights, symbolizing one’s limitless potential through education. Through ascending string lines and vibrant orchestration, the piece celebrates discovery, growth, and the energy of a space built to inspire.

Where the Sun Meets the Sea for Solo Vibraphone

by Maureen “Mo” Longo

Inspired by the majestic waves of the Pacific Ocean, this contemplative piece expresses the sounds of the ocean’s beauty through gentle melodies and shining harmonies. It utilizes the full range of the instrument to explore shimmering highs and resonant lows. Expressive rubato passages create a sense of push and pull, evoking the ebb and flow of ocean waves. It captures the peaceful and endless expanse of the ocean horizon while offering a reflective and accessible piece for both the performer and audience.

Lay Your Flowers Down for SSAA Choir

by Grace Coberly

Using cluster chords, careful phrasing, and quotations from familiar tunes, this work offers catharsis and peace in a time of grief. Featuring rhythmic tension and polyphonic writing, the work exhibits the idea that grief comes in waves; it intertwines two different stories of loss: Burial of the Young Love by Waring Cuney and Eulogy for Maya by Grace Coberly.

There’s Some Fiddle for Ya for Concert Band

by Vince Gassi

This reverent, lyrical work is a setting for concert band of the famous East Coast fiddle tune In Memory of Herbie MacLeod by Jerry Holland. Injecting a moment of calm, this work will serve as a reflective centerpiece at your next concert. Its emotional sincerity will appeal to your audiences and to your young musicians as well, providing them opportunities for expressive playing and sensitive ensemble collaboration.

The Fallen Sun for String Orchestra

by Alexander Safford

With rising melodies and driving momentum, The Fallen Sun is built over a famous rhythmic syncopation from the Allegro con brio movement of Mozart’s Symphony No. 25, which celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2023. This rhythmic motive is a vital underpinning of the work — an underlying force that returns time and again to drive the piece forward. There are engaging passages for all sections of the orchestra, with suggested fingerings and optional 8vb notation that allows for certain higher passages to be played down an octave. It also includes two cello parts: a standard cello section and an advanced cello part that plays a more independent melodic role.

The Mischievous Elves for Flute Choir

by Grant Horsley

An original composition scored for six flutes: four flutes in C, alto flute, and bass flute. It is a three-minute piece at the intermediate level, although some parts are in the early intermediate range. Written in concert D minor with the range of around two octaves; flute 1 has top G once. It is a concert piece that will provide a bit of fun as well as something different. It will work well for concerts, recitals, and productions as well as for Christmas, Halloween, and fantasy themes and concepts.

Deep in the Quiet Wood for SATB Divisi Choir

by Torren Friberg

Inviting the listener to find peace and renewal in nature’s stillness, this a cappella work brings the contemplative serenity of James Weldon Johnson’s text to life. The music delicately mirrors the poem’s quiet reverence, using warm harmonies and flowing melodic lines to evoke a forest sanctuary far removed from worldly noise. Ideal for concert settings, this piece offers choirs an opportunity to explore tone, phrasing, and emotional depth in performance.

Never Give In, Never Give Up for Wind Ensemble

by Viskamol Chaiwanichsiri

Capture the emotional journey of chasing your dreams. This piece portrays the resilience and determination required to overcome life’s challenges. It unfolds in four sections: Hesitation grapples with the doubt of whether to let go of one’s aspirations. A solemn melody suspended in harmony evokes this uncertainty, setting the stage for the journey ahead. Joyous Days bursts with optimism and hope, full of dreams. But life is never without its struggles: in Obstacles, fierce music depicts the battles we face, and the pain of shattered hopes. Just when despair seems overwhelming, The Voice enters with a soothing, gentle melody that whispers encouragement: “When bad days come, you may feel like giving in, giving up. But hang in there! Take a deep breath and keep going.” This piece is a heartfelt reminder to all: no matter how difficult the journey, never give in, and never give up.

The Fire Dance of Luna for SSAATB Choir

by Darius Lim

Full of dramatic contrasts, this mesmerizing selection is inspired by a fantasy story of children who lived on the moon and danced around a powerful fire celebrating the beauty and grandeur of the moon through song. A beautiful legato opening develops into quick rhythmic writing, while bold dynamics and a virtuosic piano accompaniment add even more excitement to this incredibly engaging work. A must-sing for more advanced choirs!