Written for wind quintet in 2021/2022.
Premiered at Hope A Starr's senior recital on November 12 2022 at Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX.
Performers: Dalia Castelan (flute), Anateresa Hipolito (alto sax), Sabrina Serrano (clarinet), Elizabeth Parrill (horn), and Carter Vernon (bari sax).

Originally written for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, and bassoon, this piece was one of the most difficult works I’ve completed. While the main ideas came easily to me and I used my first ever outline to help me write it, I ran into more dead ends than I can count. The piece took so long to complete that I actually didn’t finish it during the Fall 2021 semester I originally wrote it in. August of 2022 was spent finalizing sections and polishing everything. I believe the effort shows in the final product, as I consider Windswept Valley to be one of my best works and a great representation of my compositional voice.

Windswept Valley

Composer and pianist Hope A Starr got her start in music at age nine, when her first music teacher told the class about a free notation program and she was the only one who cared enough to try it out. Her compositional work focuses on bringing joy to people and improving her craft. Starr's works range from the energetic to the moody and she has worked with traditional chamber instruments as well as handbells and actors. In 2022 Alice Codieck of the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) in Nacogdoches, TX commissioned Starr to write a solo handbell and piano arrangement of a traditional hymn. The resulting work "The King Shall Come" was performed twice that same year, premiered at FUMC by Codieck and pianist Dr Andrew Par, and then performed at Starr's senior recital, this time performed by Codieck and Starr.

As a pianist, Starr has experience in solo performance, jazz band, and collaborative piano. She has helped to premiere many newly composed chamber and choir works, including as part of a Pierrot ensemble. Starr was the pianist for the Alvin Community College Jazz Band for two and a half years and her band played in both the 2017 and 2018 Gulf Coast Intercollegiate Consortium (GCIC) Jazz Festival. In her role as a collaborative pianist, Starr has played for funeral services of Catholic and Baptist churches and regularly puts on private performances with her husband, composer, and vocalist Brazos Starr, with works ranging from classical to romantic to jazz.

Starr got her BA in Composition at Stephen F Austin State University studying with composers Dr Stephen Lias and Robert J Coe and studied composition independently with Dr Chad Robinson for two years, a composer who founded the non-profit Texas New Music Ensemble (TNME), which Starr also worked for during her studies. She also got her AA in Piano Performance at Alvin Community College studying with composer and jazz pianist Dr. Stephen Termini and pianist Carol Holst.