Why The PRC?
Technically accessible music does not need to feel immature.
ALL musicians, regardless of ability-level, experience or age, are capable of deep emotional connection, thoughtful listening, and expressive performance when technique is not the primary barrier.
Too often, ensemble music at earlier levels prioritizes novelty or simplicity at the expense of meaning. The Purposeful Repertoire Collection exists to offer an alternative: music that respects the emotional intelligence of performers while remaining practical to rehearse and perform.
Who This Music Serves
Music in the Purposeful Repertoire Collection is especially well suited for:
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Honor Bands/ Orchestras and All-State ensembles
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Community bands/ orchestras
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Youth Orchestras
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Non-major college ensembles and small university programs
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Middle school and high school concert bands
At the same time, these works are frequently programmed by professional and university ensembles seeking thoughtful music that requires less rehearsal time than more demanding works on their program.
Works in the
Purposeful Repertoire Consortium
Concert Band
(2026)
Duration: ca. 3 min
Grade 2-3 Ensembles (4-6+ percussion)
Music that delivers bold, driving energy and luminous color. Contemporary concert band writing that sounds big, expressive, and achievable.
Concert Band
(2025)
Duration: ca. 5 min
Grade 3-4 Ensembles - (piano, 4+ percussion)
2 short movements (lyrical, then light and whimsical) portray the unappreciated beauty of nature in our urban settings. Mature music without technical difficulty allows groups to focus on ensemble skills rather than be limited by individual technique. Minimalist and impressionist influences.
Concert Band
(2023)
2024 Honorable Mention, WASBE International Composition Contest
Duration: ca. 5 ½ min
Grade 3-4 Ensembles - (optional piano, up to 9+ percussion)
Groove, grit, a Debussy quote, and expressive playing combine to create a work that features delicate soloists alongside the full power of the wind band.
Concert Band
(2023)
2024 Winner, WASBE International Composition Contest
2025 Semi-finalist, Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Composition Contest
Duration: ca. 2 ½ min
Grade 3-4 Ensembles - (5+ percussion)
A relentless work that reflects the energetic and unpredictable nature of refracted light.
Concert Band
(2023)
2025 Semi-finalist, Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Composition Contest
Duration: ca. 5 min
Grade 3-4 Ensembles - (5 or less percussion)
A slow, melodic work to showcase expressive playing. Purposefully orchestrated to be successful on a short rehearsal cycle yet with enough musical substance to do detailed work for ensembles with more preparation time.
Concert Band
(2020)
Semi-finalist, 2022 The American Prize in Composition
Duration: ca. 7 ½ min
Grade 3.5 - 4 Ensembles - (6 percussion, piano)
Ideal for conductors looking to give the woodwinds a break from "technique" while leaning on the brass section. Opportunities for expressive playing, color, and rhythmic precision.
Previous Consortium and Commissioning Partners
Listed as affiliated at the time of participation
Alabama Winds
Randall Coleman
Arizona State University Wind Bands
Jamal Duncan
Chattahoochee High School
Nick Garofalo
Colorado State University
Jayme Taylor
Fort Collins Wind Symphony
Rebecca Phillips
Fossil Ridge High School
Aaron Herman
Fourth Baptist Christian School
Levi Kolwinska
Georgia Tech Concert Bands
Benjamin Diden
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Zach Cheever
Kickapoo High School Wind Ensemble
Aaron Scriven
Liverpool High School Symphonic Band
Stephen Salem
Luther College
Cory Near
Minnesota Symphonic Winds
Timothy Mahr & Paul Kile
Moravian University
JoAnn Wieszcyk
Northwest Missouri State University
Kathryn Strickland
Oklahoma Baptist University
Timothy Kaiser
Penn State University
Robert Hickey
Rochester Century High School Bands
Amanda Kaus
Southeast Polk High School
Gabriel Schott
Southeastern Louisiana Wind Symphony
Robert Schwartz
The Lone Star Wind Orchestra
for the Lone Star Youth Winds
Andrew Trachsel
Troy University Symphonic Band
Jerianne Larson
University of Minnesota–Twin Cities
Betsy McCann
University of Northwestern St. Paul
Cassandra Bechard
University of South Carolina
Quintus F. Wrighten Jr.
Washington State University
Jonathan Sweet
The Purposeful Repertoire Consortium
This project is a collaboration with directors/ teachers who are intimately familiar with the Grade 2-4 level of music and looking to create purposeful, mature repertoire in this genre.
These pieces have been played all over the world and have been a valuable asset to directors and honor bands everywhere.
I am gathering information from directors in all genres to decide what project(s) to pursue next. Offer suggestions below or simply sign up to receive information when the project takes shape.
