Botheresque – Ean France Coleman

Botheresque is an embodiment of my anxiety through Covid, representing the ups and downs with my struggles with productivity and social isolation. It features a three part structure, mapping roughly to a timeline of my perspective and experiences throughout the summer following lock-down.

Ean France Coleman is a first year composition and computer science major at UNL. While his family was not particularly musical, he was singled out for his voice at a young age, and grew up participating in choirs until he gained an interest in piano and eventually synthesizers and electronic instruments. Ean's desire for composing comes from a need to balance the more routine and programmatic nature of his computer science major with a creative and expressive outlet.

Voices (As the Tide Flows) – Chad Fey

Voices (As the Tide Flows) reflects on the thoughts a person has while preparing for something that they deem important. Often times, our thoughts can turn from productive and analytical to detrimental and anxiety driven. These voices and thoughts impact us just like the tide rolls in and out. As a first-year college student I can confidently say I was exposed to the challenges that many first-year students face or questions that must be answered. The use of terraced dynamics and dense chords signify just how quickly things seem to stack against you or cloud your perspective. When our thoughts align, we will see ourselves flowing forward with determination and focus. As we reflect more and more, we may find that we have strayed far from the original goal or idea. This piece is about finding your center and learning to keep moving forward. As you listen to Voices, notice how some motivic development mimics the pattern of stress that our heads often create, and when those moments finally release to harmonic unity or focus in on one of those voices.

Chad Fey is a freshman at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln studying music composition with Tanner Harrod. Chad is an active member of Varsity Chorus, Jazz Big Band, Bathtub Dogs, and Big Red Singers Band at UNL. He got his musical start in the rhythm section by learning guitar and drums, and spending time playing for ensembles in middle school and high school. Chad would like to thank the support and resources that were graciously offered at Westside High School for convincing him to pursue a career as a musician, writer, and composer. Outside of Westbrook, Chad can be found recording music in his dorm, or playing video games in his free time.

Solace – Mason Siragusa

Everyone has a certain someone or something that makes life better for them. This piece encapsulates the sadness one may go through when they go through rough times, but as time goes by, they find the comfort and solace in the people who care for them, and the things they care about, and for that moment you spend with those people, or doing what you love, your problems fade away.

Mason Siragusa is an up and coming composer form Omaha, Nebraska, working on a Bachelor of Arts in music composition and a music tech minor. In addition to composition he is an accomplished horn and bass guitar player, and is currently a member of the UNL Pep Band and Big Band. He has also participated in Varsity Choir, All-Collegiate Choir, Horn Studio, and Husker Horn Choir. After completing study at UNL he plans to pursue a career in video game and film scoring. Outside of composing, you can find Mason engrossed in various video games and good books.

Out of Body – Andy Vaggalis

I've always been very fascinated by our own dreams. Whether completely random or full of things our subconscious is trying to tell us, there is so much that can be taken from these experiences. This piece is essentially the score of a dream I experienced where I had been shot and left my own body. Upon seeing my body laying on the ground I realized that I was indeed dreaming and began to lucid dream. I was able to fly around with complete control in a truly breathtaking experience before ultimately ending up back at the unsettling scene of the beginning of my dream.

Andy is a first year music composition major, studying with John David Cope. He also is studying minors in music tech and guitar with Dr. Peter Bouffard. In addition to attending UNL, he plays bass and guitar in multiple groups performing locally and around the Midwest. He also teaches lessons for guitar, piano, bass and voice. In his free time he enjoys biking, hiking, reading and golfing.

amare; to love – Jestin Cam

amare; to love is inspired by a philosophy statement written by Jonah Bennett. As music education majors, we have to establish our own, personal philosophy statements that state our values, morals, and ethics as educators.

Jestin Cam is an undergraduate music education student at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Glenn Korff School of Music. He is from Sioux City, Iowa and graduated from East High School in 2018. He has been the violin teacher for the Vivaldi Orchestra and a co-teacher for the Mozart Orchestra in the UNL/LPS String Project. He currently is the director for the color guard at Lincoln Northeast High School. He plans on teaching 9-12 strings or music theory and composition. Cam’s emphasis is in composition and studies with Dr. Greg Simon. His works have been performed by his colleagues through the Flyover New Music Series held at the Glenn Korff School of Music. In addition to studying composition, Cam has also studied viola with Professor Clark Potter. He has participated in many ensembles including: the UNL Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Singers, Varsity Chorus, the Cornhusker Marching Band, All-Collegiate Choir, and Campus Band.

Intermission

Fashion My Bones – Meredith Ollerich

Fashion My Bones is a song of female empowerment against oppressors. This work is loosely based on events that occurred to me during the 2019-2020 academic year. The vocalist represents an angry and lonely soul invoking an ancient, long-forgotten deity, represented by the trumpet player, as a last resort in order to get revenge on her abusers. The piece hints at religious and patriarchal contempt, which contrast the idea of the self-awareness and satisfaction at the end of the piece. The use of text painting, mimicry, and modes depict feelings of uneasiness and questionable resolutions. It is strongly encouraged that both performers of this work identify as female in any future performances.

Meredith Ollerich is a chemistry/pre-pharmacy and music composition double major from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, currently studying composition with Dr. Tyler White. Her musical inspiration comes from people and emotions that she encounters. Her pieces have been premiered by Nebraska Educational Telecommunications, read by UNL’s Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, and choreographed by dancers in Pennsylvania. She enjoys being lead trumpet in UNL’s Big Band, and also plays in the Cornhusker Marching Band. When Meredith isn’t studying or composing, she spends time with her Alpha Delta Pi sorority sisters, practices several instruments, and studies hard for pharmacy school.

Stars Beyond Turmoil – Sapphire Skye Toth

Untreated clinical anxiety and depression are no walk in the park. Especially when you're isolated, on bedrest, for two months while being physically ill. Add a global pandemic, political chaos and societal unrest...you've got turmoil spinning around and around in your head with a feeling of no way out. This piece is about searching for the stars, the hope and bright spots in your life, during such a time.

Sapphire Skye Toth is a Filipina-American from California working towards her BA in composition at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. A nerd at heart, Toth loves everything from traditional literature to D&D to video games. This love for world-creating, combined with a life of music, is what drives her to be a composer. Toth has worked as a freelance composer since 2017 and is currently composing for chamber and solo musicians, as well as a scoring composer. Toth currently interns with We are Nebraska and has interned with The Lied Center. For more info, please go to sapphiretoth.com

Chroma – Coral Douglas

Chroma is a collection of miniatures for piano, each of varying technical requirements. Tonight’s performance will feature miniatures III and V.

Coral Douglas began composing at the age of 10, influenced by the avant-garde, psychedelic rock, and contemporary composition. Valedictorian of her undergraduate class, Douglas has written extensively for chamber and large ensembles. Douglas' newest works include Children With Houses, a full-length pop album and Circuit, a solo for marimba and electronics. Douglas has written for such ensembles as the LaGrange Chamber Orchestra, the Georgia Film Orchestra, and has been commissioned by internationally accomplished figures, such as flutist Alina Windell and Steinway artist Jeremy Samolesky. Her music has been heard in recitals across the country, through film tours and at conferences such as the National Flute Association Convention. During her undergraduate career, Douglas won John Hines Jr. Research Award for her Isolation Symphony. Having received her B.M. from LaGrange College, Douglas is currently pursuing her Master's in Music Composition at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

equanimity – Tanner Harrod

Meaning “mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation,” equanimity was the last piece I wrote prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The piece is structured on textural growth and decay. Frequently, the two performers will sound as if one player, but then gradually morph into two individual players, only to eventually return to the more homophonic texture. Working as a single unit, the two performers rely on each other’s support for their own sense of equanimity.

Tanner Harrod is a composer and performer currently pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition at the UNL under the tutelage of Dr. Greg Simon. As UNL, Harrod teaches composition, assists with the Flyover New Music Series, and also assists with the undergraduate music theory sequence. His piece, Fiery Sea, was selected for the 2019 Region VI conference of the Society of Composers, Inc. Upcoming projects include The First Rain of the Year, a chamber ensemble commissioned by Trace Chamber Society. As a guitarist, Harrod specializes in musical theatre, jazz, and contemporary chamber music. More information can be found at www.tannerharrod.com