"A Leaf on the Wind" was my first work as a composition major at Illinois State University and was featured on the Fall 2013 Music Factory concert.  This piece exemplifies the influence that the Classical and Romantic eras have on me, both as a musician and composer.  In writing this piece, I listened to a lot of Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, and other classical composers.  The influences behind the piece, and title, is a quote from the movie "Serenity" as the pilot is flying his ship through a massive space battle he says, "I am a leaf on the wind, watch as I soar."  Despite all hell breaking loose, he makes his ship dance effortlessly, avoiding destruction.  

Performed by James Thompson, Illinois State University Graduate Student of Flute Performance, and Amanda Lewis, Illinois State University Graduate Student of Piano Performance.

A Leaf On The Wind, for Flute and Piano

Imagine a bird learning to fly for the first time.  Up to that point, the bird has only experienced the enclosed surroundings of the nest and it's mother's company.  But when it first flies, sees the vast open world for the first time...imagine what that would feel like.  Imagine seeing that vast openness for the first time.  That image and emotion is what I aim to capture in my piece, Soar.  Seeing the vast, open world and nature with all it's beauty for the first time has to be an incredible experience.  I wanted to capture a sort of rising sensation, a buildup of tension through fast tempos, mixed meters, rhythmic accents, and rests, culminating in a slower,more flowing middle section.  This is the bird finally learning how to fly and seeing that image described above.

Finding inspiration has always been a struggle for me, because I constantly have so many ideas going through my head.  It's hard to just focus on one!  I feel with this piece, however, I've gained the ability to focus on a single idea and shape it into whatever I want it to be.  That being said, I hope you enjoy Soar!

Performed by Alex Pantazi-Alto Saxophone, Illinois State University Undergrad Music Ed Major and Cassie Wieland-Bass Clarinet, Illinois State University Undergrad Music Ed/Comp Major

Soar, for Alto Saxophone and Bass Clarinet

As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, "Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad."  Depression is one of the most common mental conditions in our society today.  It is also one of the most destructive.  About 80% of the world's total population experiences some form of depression throughout their lives, yet we still do not fully understand it.  It doesn't mean that a person is just sad all the time and refuses to look on the bright side of life; they literally can't.  Imagine a moment in your when you were truly happy, then imagine what that moment would be like if you took the happiness away; that is how a person with depression feels daily.  It is the absence of happiness, the inability to feel joy because of past experiences.  I am one of those people and this piece was difficult for me to write being that it is such a personal topic to me.  In the end, what I hope you take away from this piece is just a little more understanding of what someone with depression has to go through.  Thank you.

Performed by Jenna Blayney, Illinois State University Music Education Major

Sorrows The World Knows Not, for Solo Oboe

Much like other composers, I became interested in music by playing and studying the great standards of band repertoire.  I spent much of my time listening to the works of Gustav Holst, Alfred Reed, David Maslanka, and many more; completely immersing myself into the beauty of music creation.  Moments like this have led me to decide to devote my entire life to music.  With that inspiration, I wanted to write a piece to serve as an homage to all the great composers of band music; men and women that, like me, had and continue to have an extraordinary passion for music.  Without these composers, it is very possible that I would not be where I am today in music.  It truly is a surreal experience to see my name next to that of Ralph Vaughn-Williams, Percy Grainger, and John Barnes Chance because all three of these composers have been extremely influential people not only in writing this piece but also up to this point in my musical life.

Premiered on March, 4th, 2015, performed by Amy Mikalauskas, Illinois State University Graduate Student Conductor, and Illinois State University University Band

Fanfare And Chorale, for Wind Band

Music layering project that uses various audio files from Doom, and other similar sources.

ATK 340 Final "Doom"

I was asked by Dr. Kim McCord to write a piece for a group kids from grades 6th-9th at Metcalf Lab School that play jazz and blues on Orff instruments, the Metcalf Orffcats, for their upcoming performance at the Jazz Education Network Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.

Reggie's Got The Blues is about the ISU Football Team making it to the FCS Championship game against North Dakota State, ultimately losing but being hopeful for next season.  This was my first experience writing not only for Orff but for Blues in general.  It was an amazing experience I'll never forget!

Premiered by Dr. Kim McCord and Donna Zawatski, directors, and the Metcalf Orffcats on January 9th, 2015 at JEN.  Featuring Stephanie Chow on guitar.


Reggie's Got The Blues, for "Orff Big Band"

School shootings, unfortunately, have becoming something of a commonality today.  It seems like every other week or so, a new incident occurs.  As tragic as these events are, it always amazes me how quickly they can bring the country together; to face the tragedy as one nation.

This piece is about one such shooting, only not in the US.  This attack occurred in Kenya, Africa at Garissa University on April 2nd, 2015. A militant group, Al-Shabaab, unexpectedly attacked the school retaliating to an ideological disagreement with the government of Kenya,killing 3 soldiers, 3 police officers, and 142 students.  I remember reading about the attack a day or so afterward and my heart sank.  I could not believe what I was reading.  Upon further research, I discovered that schools and universities in Africa are often considered places of peace, safe havens from whatever ideological and/or religious conflicts that often occur.  To me, that made this attack especially vicious.  And yet as tragic as this event was, it brought large parts of the world together to support the Kenyan people in their time of need.  In my piece, I hope to convey this horrible event occurring, yes, but also the incredible amount of human kindness that Kenya received in response to that horrible event.  We face struggles every day of our lives, but there is no obstacle we cannot overcome if we work together.

Premiered on March 2nd, 2016 by Dr. Gavin Smith, conductor, and the ISU University Band.

One-Forty-Eight, for Wind Band

Here Come The Redbirds!

Aspiring Composer and Conductor studying Music Education/Music Composition at Illinois State University.  2012 Golden Apple Scholar, Delta Omicron.

Brody Felix