Imaginary Elementary School Spring Concert 2022

Imaginary Elementary School Beginning Band

Journey of the Bonfire (2017)
William Owens (1965)
Embark for adventure with this piece based on travelling the open sea! The writing and instrumentation of
this composition is made to be very ocean and sailing themed. Bold melodies in the brass, underlying
countermelodies and trills in the woodwinds, and the use of a ship’s bell all work together to form
expression of this William Owens work. Owens graduated from VanderCook College of Music in
Chicago in 1985 and works now as a music educator, composer, and clinician. In 2014, he was
recognized by the Texas Bandmasters Association as the featured composer.

Beyond the Highlands (2007)

Benjamin Yeo (1985)
With its contrasting fast tempo sections and lyrical section, Beyond the Highlands will make you feel like
you have travelled far and wide on an exciting journey. The beautiful trumpet solo foretells the
triumphant return of a hero and pushes the listener into the next quick section of the piece. Beyond the
Highlands belongs to the album Spirit of the Winds: Album for the Young, released in September of
2007. In addition to adding to this great album, Benjamin Yeo has also had his works performed at the
Midwest Clinic, an annual International Band and Orchestra Conference held in Chicago, Illinois. He has
been writing and arranging music as early as 15 years old!

Last Stage to Red Rock (2016)

Jennifer Jolley (1981)
Last Stage to Red Rock was arranged from a song of the same name from the movie The Hateful Eight by
Quentin Tarantino. The piece was premiered in 2016 by the Mason Intermediate School 6 th grade band
directed by Micah Ewing, who the piece is actually dedicated to. Jennifer Jolley has been commissioned
by the National Endowment for the Arts, the MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music, the Left
Coast Chamber Ensemble, and the Quince Ensemble, just to name some. She has worked at the Texas
Tech School of Music on the composition faculty since 2018. The piece is energetic yet builds tension
with repeated rhythms and lots of changes in volume. The percussion parts add a suspenseful atmosphere
that will bring you into the world of this composition.

Down to the River to Pray (2003)

Anne McGinty (1945)
Anne McGinty got her master’s degree of Music from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
with a concentration in flute performance, music theory, and composition. McGinty is also the first
female composer to be commissioned by the United States Army Band. The publisher that published
Down to the River to Pray, Queenwood Publications was actually started by Anne McGinty and her
husband in 1987. Although the piece was published by Queenwood in 2003, McGinty sold the company
to Neil A. Kjos Music Company in 2002. Whether you know Down to the River to Pray as a classic
Gospel song or as a feature in the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou”, you are sure to recognize the
melody. Each section of the band gets the chance to play the melody on their own, too!

IES Music 2021-2022

 Imaginary Elementary School Beginning Orchestra
Moonlight Tango (1994)
Richard Meyer (1966)
As implied by the title, Moonlight Tango is a dance in a minor key. Although it is repetitive, this
piece is sure to get your foot tapping with its strong basslines and fun melodies. Both the upper
and lower strings get the chance to shine with the melody. Richard Meyer is a great staple
composer and is highly sought after for commissions and clinics. He also has written methods
books such as String Explorer and Sight Read It for strings. With a strong composer and a fun
theme, this piece can be enjoyable for everyone.
Labyrinth (2013)
Vance Zuehlsdorff, J. Cameron Law
This mysterious, fast-paced piece makes clever use of dynamics to create suspense and evoke the
imagery of a labyrinth. Although the upper strings serve as the melodic role of this piece, all the
sections work together to deliver the theme of the piece. Labyrinth is arranged by J. Cameron
Law, who got his master’s degree in Cello Performance at the University of Michigan, where he
went on to be a graduate assistant! Law currently teaches the orchestras at Grand Junction High
School and West Middle School.
Desert Sands (2008)
Soon Hee Newbold (1974)
Tension rises as our orchestra treks across the desert! Each part of the orchestra will have the
chance to play the melody as well as come together at certain parts to bring the house down.
Soon Hee Newbold is a South Korean composer, conductor, musician, and actress who has been
playing music since she was 5 years old. She got her Bachelor of Music degree from James
Madison University and went to work in Walt Disney World to have her symphonies performed.
Her music has been performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and the
Midwest Clinic.
Red Pepper (2006)
Jeffery S. Bishop
Red Pepper is the last in the series of a 2006 collection of pieces by Jeffery Bishop that each
relate to a color. This piece takes its melody from Zydeco music, which belongs to the Native
American population of southern Louisiana. Each section of the orchestra will get a taste of the
melody and will have to be quick about it, too! In 2015, Bishop earned his PhD in Curriculum &
Instruction with a music education focus at Kansas State University. He now teaches the
orchestra at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Kansas City.
We hope you enjoyed our concert! Thank you to the IES band and orchestra boosters.

IES Music 2021-2022