My Top 9 Recordings from 2019!

21/1/2020

2019 was a huge year for my music, including 9 world premieres, my first ever set major work at a National contest ('Vengeance' as the Open D Grade Brass Band Test Piece at the Australian National Band Championships), plus numerous international performances, particularly of my arrangement of 'The First Noel'. So rather than you sift through the last 12 months, I have compiled, in no particular order, my favourite recorded performances and premieres from 2019.

1) 'No Time Per Una Siesta!' for Brass Band

'No Time Per Una Siesta!' won the 2019 Foden's Band Composition Competition, and Poynton Youth Brass Band made this wonderful rendition. Some energetic and exciting playing from this young group of musicians. A must have chart for youth or energetic ensembles!

2) 'Freefall' for Solo Euphonium and Piano/Brass Band

'Freefall', commissioned by Fletcher Mitchell and the City of Greater Dandenong Band, drew inspiration from Felix Baumgartner's Red Bull Stratos freefall jump. After the band version was premiered by Fletcher Mitchell and the City of Greater Dandenong Band at the Dandenong Band's space-themed cabaret, Fletcher made the above premiere of the piano accompaniment version at the Lieska Brass Festival in Finland. Both the piano and brass band versions are available for high calibre euphonium soloists up for the challenge!

3) 'Elegy' for Brass Band

One of my more solemn works for band, 'Elegy' was awarded the 2019 Robyn Young Award at the South Brisbane Federal Band Composition Competition. Under the baton of Russell Gray, the band produced this stunning live performance.

4) 'A Journey With Sunshine' for Brass Band

Commissioned for Sunshine Community Brass' 90th Anniversary, 'A Journey With Sunshine' follows the band's history, from its harvesting inception, to the band hall's destruction due to fires, concluding with a celebration of the band's contest successes!

5) 'Lucid Dreaming' for PLEXUS

Written as part of my university folio, 'Lucid Dreaming' makes up the fourth and final movement of 'rest'. PLEXUS offered this stunning live performance of some fiendishly difficult music as part of Monash's lunchtime concert programme. Keep your eyes peeled for the recordings of the remaining movements in 2020!

6) 'Precious Name' for Brass Band

Commissioned by Sunshine Brass Band in memory of Roger Roache, 'Precious Name' was a specially commissioned hymn arrangement that formed part of the band's winning performance at the 2019 Sunshine Coast Festival of Brass. 'Precious Name' is a perfect sacred item selection for lower grade ensembles with a confident drum kit player.

7) 'Entombed' for Wind Ensemble

Perhaps my most ambitious work for wind ensemble yet, 'Entombed' was shortlisted in the 2019 Adelaide Wind Orchestra Composition Workshop. 'Entombed' was inspired by the 2006 Beaconsfield Mine Collapse. Score and parts will be made available for purchase in early 2020.

8) 'Marion' for Brass Band

Commissioned for Marion City Band's 50th Anniversary, 'Marion' has been both Marion City and Warriparinga Brass' anthem in 2019, being premiered as Marion's street march at the 2019 Australian National Band Championships, and performed along streets and upon stages ever since. The above performance is by Warriparinga Brass from the 2019 Mount Gambier Festival.

9) 'Stella' for Brass Band

'Stella' has proven to be a winning sacred item selection for higher bands, after Geelong West Brass Band sealed the B Grade title at the Mount Gambier Festival in November last year. 'Stella' was premiered by Northern Brass at the Australian Nationals in 2019, and was also well received by the adjudicator.

I won't reveal just yet what you should expect in 2020, but there will be new solo repertoire, works for brass band and wind ensemble and plenty more, as I enter my final year of my degree. Thank you for your ongoing support, and I cannot wait to share the 2020 chapter of my musical journey with you all!