**Honorable mention in the 2020 ‘When Tuba Come One’ International Composition Competition**
**Finalist for the 2021 ITEA Winston Morris Award for Tuba Ensemble Composition**

Persevere and Rebuild, for the Sun will Rise Again was written for the 2020 ‘When Tuba Come One’ International Composition Competition, where it received an honorable mention and will be recorded on the When Tuba Come One Quartet’s upcoming CD later in 2021. Dedicated to all of the healthcare workers working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, Persevere and Rebuild begins with a gorgeous slow section before shifting into faster, more optimistic territory, in which the two top voices are featured in rapid-fire solos. The tubas then provide a brief, thoughtful soli, where a temporarily calm heartbeat can be heard. The work ends with a driving, jubilant finale reminiscent of British brass band and Salvation Army band music.

Sheet Music Available Here: https://www.cimarronmusic.com/persevereandrebuildforthesunwillriseagain

Copyright © 2020 Cimarron Music

Persevere And Rebuild, For The Sun Will Rise Again - for tuba quartet

Premiere Performance/Recording by the Julius Quartet

Two Vignettes for String Quartet (2021) consists of two distinct, programmatic movements. The first movement "Memories Lost" dives into the mind of an individual suffering from dementia, gradually losing the memories they cherish the most. It begins with a still, barren landscape, as if a memory has already begun to fade. The first violin then provides the main thematic material while the remaining three voices ominously haunt from below. After an emotional climax, the movement ends where it began, with faded memories. The second movement "Demon Dance" is an aggressive, angular, rapid-fire dance drawing inspiration from the second movement of Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 8. Constantly spinning between unison and syncopated rhythms, and jagged, virtuosic passages passed between the four voices, "Demon Dance" is a continuous burst of deranged energy.

Sheet music available here: https://www.ianlestermusic.com/store/p13/Two_Vignettes_for_String_Quartet_%282021%29.html

Copyright © 2021 Ian Lester

Two Vignettes for String Quartet

Premiere performance by the UMKC Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble

Centralia is a work for tuba/euphonium sextet that is inspired by Centralia, Pennsylvania - an old mining town that has had a fire burning underneath the municipality since 1962. The original cause of the fire is still debated. There are caution signs posted around the city warning of the risks of walking or driving through the town, as the ground is considered unstable above the blaze. As of 2017, Centralia has a population of five, making it a barren ghost town which some consider a gateway to hell itself.

Sheet music available here: https://www.cimarronmusic.com/centralia

Copyright © 2021 Cimarron Music

Centralia (world premiere performance) - for tuba/euphonium sextet

Premiere Performance by the SPLICE Ensemble.

LAKEWAVES was written in 2021 for the SPLICE Ensemble. Drawing inspiration from the composer's time spent at his family cottage on Lake Huron in Lexington, Michigan. The work consists of two contrasting movements, the first representing the still, clear water early in the morning via various tuplets, feathered beaming, trills, and various rising and falling musical elements. The second section portrays the rough waters and waves during a thunderstorm over the lake through driving rhythms, thunderous dynamics, and changing meters. The piece ends with a recap of the lightly flowing calm waters.

Sheet music available here: https://www.ianlestermusic.com/store/p8/LAKEWAVES_%282021%29.html

Copyright © 2021 Ian Lester

LAKEWAVES (world premiere performance) - for C trumpet, drum set, and piano

**Consortium performance by Justin Weis (euphonium) and Sophia Lo (vibraphone) at the University of North Texas**

CYCLES is the result of a consortium for tuba and vibraphone (and a version for euphonium and vibraphone) written in memory of Dr. Doug Whitten, professor of tuba and euphonium at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. The consortium was led by tubist and former student of Doug, Johnathan De Soto Jr. CYCLES consists of two movements. The first movement, “The Gifts that Life Brings”, was inspired by the stories I was told by those who knew Doug, describing him as kind, accepting, selfless, loving, among many other things. This movement also represents Doug’s love for tuba, and music in general, by revolving around an ethereal chord progression and melody that develops and transforms over time. The second movement, “Embrace the Grind” is up-tempo and energetic, representing Doug’s love for cycling and roller derby. It also contains a slower, more flowing B section, as if momentarily stopping a cycle ride to admire the beautiful Kansan sunset.

Sheet music available here: https://www.ianlestermusic.com/store/p25/CYCLES_%282022%29_for_Tuba_%28or_Euphonium%29_and_Vibraphone.html

Copyright © 2022 Ian Lester

CYCLES (Euphonium and Vibraphone version)

Premiere recording by Brent Mead.
Recording engineer/mixing/mastering by Ben Baker 

S0c1AL was written in 2022 for Brent Mead as part of his grant-based project to commission several new works for trombone that all were to relate to issues, disorders, and traumas that many people face. The project is aimed towards younger people in an effort to show through music that these negativities in life can be dealt with and managed in a healthy way, and more importantly, to show that there are others who have faced similar obstacles; you are not alone. S0c1AL deals with the topic of social anxiety, a type of anxiety disorder, that many people, including myself, struggle with to some extent. Social anxiety is persistent and makes it difficult to do things such as meet new people, develop new relationships, and attend social gatherings. Furthermore, someone with social anxiety may fear that they are being judged by others and feel helpless to control these feelings. S0c1AL is a through-composed work that consists of three main thematic sections:

I. There are Almost 8 Billion People on This Planet, yet I Feel so Alone: This first section portrays the constant pendulum of emotions associated with social anxiety. One is fearful of being around others, yet simultaneously yearns for friendship. This inner conflict is represented frequent shifting between “bright” and “dark” melodic and harmonic structures in both the solo trombone part and the backing track. Optional pedals used: Reverb, Octave, and Delay.

II. Risk with a Side of Self-doubt: This movement represents the anxiety, fear, and questions that arise when approaching someone new: “What should I say? What if they think I’m weird? Do I make small talk?” Optional pedals used: Overdrive and Chorus.

III. Free: Finally, this optimistic movement represents the relief and weight off the shoulders when one successfully makes a new friend. Optional pedals used: Reverb.

Sheet music available here: https://www.ianlestermusic.com/store/p34/S0c1AL_-_for_trombone%2C_fixed_media%2C_and_optional_guitar_pedals.html

Copyright © 2022 Ian Lester

S0c1AL - for trombone, fixed media, and optional guitar pedals

Performed by The Troubled Euphs (audio recording by Patrick Yeh)

The bullet train system, or Shinkansen, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan first opening in 1964. With a maximum operating speed of 200 mph, and even faster speeds achieved in test runs, bullet trains are certainly an impressive example of technological advancements and innovation of transportation. Bullet Train for euphonium trio begins with a sparsely orchestrated introduction, representing the train sitting idle at the station. The momentum quickly picks up in pace with polyrhythms and interlocking melodic lines. The fast tempo and driving nature of the piece continue non-stop all the way until the final chord.

Sheet music available here: www.ianlestermusic.com/store/p6/Bull…82021%29.html

Copyright © 2021 Ian Lester

Bullet Train - Ian Lester

Performed by The Troubled Euphs at the 2024 Great Plains Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Against All Odds was written for the Troubled Euphs euphonium trio in late 2022. The work was inspired by the many cases throughout history of people surviving the seemingly un-survivable. Two specific instances that came to mind were the separate stories of Kamel Abdel Rahman and Phineas Gage. Both were impaled through the head in horrific accidents yet survived against all odds.

Sheet music available here: www.ianlestermusic.com/store/p32/Aga…ium_Trio.html

Copyright © 2023 Ian Lester

Against All Odds - Ian Lester

Premiere performance by the 2024 KC Trombone Workshop conducted by Grant Morgan

Infinity is a piece for trombone ensemble (sextet) commissioned by the KC Trombone Workshop in the Spring of 2024. Infinity is dedicated to loved ones of all kinds. I am fortunate to have loving parents, an amazing sister, and a wonderful extended family, all of whom have supported me in many ways throughout my music career. The title of the piece is directly inspired by my parents, who frequently told me “I love you infinity” when I was a young child. I encourage performers to think of someone (or something) they care for deeply when playing Infinity and channel that warmth and love into the music.

Sheet music available here: https://www.ianlestermusic.com/store/p43/Infinity_%282024%29_-_for_Trombone_Sextet.html

Infinity - for trombone ensemble

**Required Repertoire for the ITEC 2023 euphonium and electronics competition final round**

Necroterror was inspired by the synth-heavy soundtracks of 1980's zombie movies. I have always been a fan of horror movies and the soundtracks that help being them to life, with the first one to grab my attention being George A. Romero's Day of the Dead (1985). This is my homage to horror movies along with George A. Romero, who passed away in 2017.

Performance by Dr. Richard Demy

Sheet music (w/backing track) available here: https://www.cimarronmusic.com/necroterror

Copyright © 2018 Cimarron Music

Necroterror - for euphonium and fixed media

Performance by Irving Ray from his Euphonium and Electronics recital as part of the Musicians Without Borders Military on May 8th, 2021

Written In 2019 for Irving Ray of the United States “Pershing’s Own” Army Band, “Neon Dream” is a work for solo euphonium and electronics. It draws inspiration from laser tag arenas and attempts to convey the excitement and adventure that comes with them, as well as the nostalgia experienced by adults who grew up going to these establishments.

Sheet music (w/backing track) available here: https://www.cimarronmusic.com/neondream

Copyright © 2020 Cimarron Music

Neon Dream - for euphonium and fixed media

The Troubled Euphs is a euphonium trio founded in 2021 by Drew Leslie, Dr. Ian Lester, and Jared Sherman, all students at the University of Missouri – Kansas City at the time of the ensemble’s inception. The trio's objective is to commission, promote, and perform new repertoire for euphonium trio and demonstrate the unique strengths and capabilities of their instrumentation. Within the first two and a half years of their existence, the trio has commissioned ten new works for the medium, several of which were composed by local Kansas City-area composers. The trio has been recognized for their talents and musicianship, earning a 4th place finish at the North American Brass Band Association chamber ensemble competition, and being invited as semi-finalists for the small ensemble competition at the 2023 International Tuba Euphonium Conference in Tempe, Arizona, where they received 4th place. Most recently, the Troubled Euphs have been invited to perform at the South Central Regional Tuba Euphonium conference at the University of Memphis as well as the Southeast Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference at Middle Tennessee State University.

Bullet Train - Ian Lester

The Troubled Euphs

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