World Premiere of Café Bleu by the combined Blinn College Wind Symphony and Brenham Texas Wind Symphonic Band

Café Bleu (for wind ensemble)

The world premiere of But the bridge...it's unforgiving... for Wind Band and SATB Choir composed by Trevor Frost and lyrics by Ellie Clark. Performed by the Lebanon (NH) High School Band and Choir, conducted by Dominick DeFrancisco.

But the bridge, it's unforgiving... was commissioned by Emma Cooke, Dominick DeFrancisco, and the Lebanon High School Choir and Band and gave the world premiere on May 17, 2023 at the Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

But the bridge, it's unforgiving...(Live)

Kevin Day's Lightning Round, performed by the WP Wind Symphony on April 27th, 2023. Teresa Purcell-Giles, conductor. 
Visit wpband.org for more information about the William Paterson University Bands.

Lightning Round_Kevin Day

In June of 2023 I went on the most exhilarating, awe-inspiring, and spiritually fulfilling trip I have ever been on. As part of the Composing in the Wilderness Lake Clark 2023 program me and five other composers led by our wilderness guides and the founder of the program Stephen Lias camped and explored the wilderness on Lower Tazimina Lake in Lake Clark National Park in Alaska. I’m still speechless about this experience and the pure beauty of the unsullied environment I found myself in. I have always loved being out in nature and appreciating the profound beauty that Mother Earth has provided for us. Being a part of this select group and living within this space was life changing.

As part of the experience each composer received a “creative assignment” that serves a particular purpose within the overall program of the six works. My assignment was to write a “light, humorous, or playful” wind ensemble work. At first, I had a really hard time with this assignment. I did not view this place as “light, humorous, or playful” whatsoever and was having a really hard time coming up with ideas that depicted this. On our first day of hiking, we took short creative breaks where we could contemplate our assignments and come up with ideas. Rather than searching for answers about my piece I found myself being in the moment and simply taking in what my eyes were witnessing. I felt my spirit being intertwined with Mother Earth’s spirit and, in that moment, was the most important thing to me. The ideas can come later, but those moments were dedicated to me and nature.

As we continued our hike, I started to think how I was supposed to write this “light, humorous, or playful” piece about a place I didn’t view as “light, humorous, or playful,” in fact very far from it. Then, out of the brush, a snowy white bird emerged and flew to a nearby tree making a guttural series of clucking sounds. Our guides identified it as a willow ptarmigan, a type of grouse commonly found in subarctic tundra. It was spectacular to witness such a beautiful bird. As the week progressed, I observed more birds and their songs. One morning we were sitting on the beach eating breakfast and a flock of what looked like sanderlings flew right past us. It was at this moment where I knew how I could write a playful piece, the Alaskan birds, and their various dances. 

𝙅𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙖: 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙋𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙖𝙣 depicts the willow ptarmigan, represented by the bassoon, and their highly territorial and playful nature along with other various birds I heard while in the wilderness and their interactions with one another.

𝙅𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙖 is written as part of the Composing in the Wilderness Lake Clark 2023 program led by Stephen Lias. Premiere performances will be done in spring 2024 by Tamey Anglley and the Stephen F. Austin University Wind Ensemble, Carolyn Barber and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Wind Ensemble, and Kevin Tutt and the Grand Valley State University Wind Symphony.

Journey Above the Tundra: Dance of the Willow Ptarmigan

For symphonic wind ensemble.  For more information and to order your copy, visit https://www.petehazzard.com/music/p/psalm-123-turn

Psalm 123 MIX

“TETRA STREAM” 

This piece was inspired by photographs I had taken during my travels across different regions of Thailand. The country is traditionally divided into four main regions: the North, the Central, the Northeast, and the South. For this work, I selected one photograph to represent each of these regions.

The composition draws upon the emotions and atmospheres I personally experienced while visiting each place. Rather than aiming to capture a universally shared impression of the regions, the music instead reflects my own feelings and interpretations of those moments. Listeners may not necessarily associate the piece with the exact character or ambiance of each region, but what I sought to express was an honest musical portrayal of my personal journey and emotional response.The following notes describe the composer’s reflections in more detail:

Northern Region ( Bar: 1 - 43, Mark: A - E )
The North is often associated with mountains, mist, and a gentle sense of serenity. My photograph captured a quiet landscape at dawn, where the cool air and stillness left a lasting impression. The music for this section reflects that atmosphere—calm, spacious, and colored with subtle textures, like a gentle breeze moving across the hills.

Central Region ( Bar: 44 - 96, Mark: E - K )
The Central region, with its bustling cities and fertile plains, gave me a very different feeling. The photograph I chose was taken in a lively town, full of energy and movement. The music here is more rhythmic and bright, echoing the sense of vitality and everyday life that defines this part of Thailand.

Northeastern Region (Isan) ( Bar: 96 - 144, Mark: K - Q )
In the Northeast, I was struck by the warmth and resilience of the people, as well as the wide-open landscapes. My photograph showed a rustic, sunlit field that seemed endless. The music carries a rustic, earthy quality, with melodies that are both grounded and spirited, echoing the character of the region’s culture and traditions.

Southern Region ( Bar: 145 - 210, Mark: Q - End )
The South, with its coastlines and tropical atmosphere, left me with feelings of openness and freedom. The photograph I selected showed the sea stretching far into the horizon. Musically, this part is flowing and expansive, with a sense of motion that mirrors the ocean waves and the natural beauty of the region. I also recall an experience at a small bar in the South, where soft jazz was playing in the background alongside the gentle sound of waves breaking on the shore. The combination created a sense of comfort and a mood I deeply enjoyed, which I decided to weave into the music as well.

TETRA STRAM “Four Picture Regions of Thailand” 2025 (for Wind Ensemble)

We are William Paterson University Bands, a comprehensive collegiate band program within the Department of Music at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. With degrees in Music Education, Sound Engineering Arts, Music & Entertainment Industries and Music Performance (with tracks in classical, jazz and pop music), along with degrees in Music Studies and Digital Music Creation, there are a multitude of ensembles and groups in which students can perform, including the WP Bands Chamber Wind Ensemble, Preparatory Ensemble and Athletic Band. Ensembles are open to music majors and non-music majors.

Perapong Viriya (b.2001) is a Thai composer, conductor, and saxophonist. His works have been recognized in Thai Composer of Our Century and performed by prominent ensembles including the Million Wind Philharmonic, Hamonious Musikavier, Suranaree Girls School Bands, Nontri Orchestra Wind, and the Mahidol University Tuba Euphonium Studio. His music has also been featured internationally, reflecting his growing presence on the global stage.
Inspired by diverse traditions—ranging from Classical and Romantic music to late 20th-century styles, Jazz, and Blues—Perapong is particularly known for blending contemporary techniques with traditional Thai elements. This fusion creates a distinctive voice that bridges cultures and resonates with audiences across different backgrounds.
Much of his work is shaped by personal experiences and travels. He often draws on stories, places, and emotions from his own life, weaving them into musical narratives that invite performers and listeners to share in his perspective. For Perapong, music is both an art form and a way of expressing identity: a means for others to truly know him through sound.
He began playing music at the age of ten and soon discovered his passion for composition, especially in the setting of wind ensembles, orchestras, and concert bands. Currently, he is pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in music at the College of Music, Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, where he continues to refine his craft as a composer, conductor, and saxophonist.

Dr. Trevor Frost is a freelance educator, conductor and composer based in Nebraska. Frost received his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Wind Band Conducting with a related area in Composition from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His duties at UNL included work with the Ensemble Performance Lab, Symphonic Band, Campus Band, the Big Red Express pep bands, and the Cornhusker Marching Band. Prior to joining the team at UNL, Frost served as the music director at Paul Elementary School in Wakefield, New Hampshire creating a band, chorus, and general music program. He received his Master of Arts in Music: Music Conducting degree from the University of New Hampshire in 2021, and his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of New Hampshire in 2016. Frost remains active as a composer receiving commissions from the New Hampshire Youth Band, the University of New Hampshire Wind Symphony, the Keene State Concert Choir, Lebanon High School (NH), and Pittsfield High School (MA). Frost was also selected as one of six composers for the “Composing in the Wilderness 2023 Lake Clark” program led by Composer-Adventurer Stephen Lias.

New tracks tagged #windsymphony