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In late November 2023, Andrew Cox, a graduate conducting student emailed me with a goal for his time at the University of Arkansas. He wanted to work directly with student composers and have them write pieces for the concert bands to perform under his direction. I gladly accepted Andrew’s offer and started brainstorming ideas. Much like Andrew, I have a goal for my time here at the U of A, and that is to use my skills as a composer and the knowledge I learn as a music educator to learn how to make the music of the Contemporary-classical style more accessible to students of all ages, as this is the music I currently write and have the most connection with.

This entire piece was constructed using set theory, a compositional technique and form of analysis that emerged in the 20th century that reduces music to the distances or intervals between notes rather than specific pitches; So, this piece focuses on just four intervals and finds various ways to use them. By completing this piece, I feel I have made a step forward to reach my goal.