Band and Video Consortium Commission

Concert Band and Video Consortium Commission

Standard Concert Band instrumentation plus cinematic video track
5-6 minutes in duration
Grade 3 - 3.5
Completed by March 1, 2025 and delivered by PDF via email to all consortium members
Buy-in price is $250
Final day to join consortium is November 1, 2024.

About the work

I'll be working Charles Latshaw on the video. He is an expert drone pilot and has captured some amazing footage! This video gives you a taste of the type of shots I'll be scoring.

Consortium Josh Hettinger and Composer Benjamin Taylor aim to create a novel, exciting, fresh piece for wind band and video, similar to what audiences have enjoyed at Disney with Soarin' over California and Soarin' over the World. Only this project will have much more adrenaline in the cinematography with crazy action shots, dives, and flips, in addition to some stunning panoramic shots of mountains and canyons. The music will at times be majestic and expansive, contrasted with moments of intensity and grooviness; all to create a powerful multi-media experience for players and audiences alike.

Benefits to Consortium Members:
-Exclusive performance rights for 1 year following delivery of the completed work
-Right to give regional premiere of the work
-The composer has agreed to do a Zoom rehearsal session at a discounted rate.

Composer - Benjamin Dean Taylor

The music of Benjamin Dean Taylor (born 1983), has been described as “elegant and energetic” (Kenneth Thompson) and “powerful and direct with delightful surprises in each work.” (Marilyn Shrude) Having grown up as a performer in jazz, rock, ska, country, and concert bands as well as in choirs and orchestras, Taylor is driven to write music that highlights the strengths of each performing ensemble. His catalog of more than 100 works covers a large range of styles and genres including music written for orchestra, wind band, opera, choir, jazz big band, gamelan, chamber ensembles, and soloists with live electronics. Taylor has received commissions from ensembles including the Calidore String Quartet, Omaha Symphony, Solaire Saxophone Quartet, New World Youth Symphony, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Civic Wind Symphony. As a sought-after composer for wind band, Taylor has been commissioned by over 100 band directors of players at all educational levels. Recently named a recipient of his third commission from the Barlow Endowment, Taylor’s prizes and honors include Winner in the 2013 Ticheli Composition Contest, a grant from the Indiana Arts Council (2015), Dean’s Prize in Composition from Indiana University (2013), BMI Student Composers Award (2011), Winner in the American Composers Orchestra Underwood New Music Readings (2012), and an ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award (2011). Benjamin Taylor completed a doctorate degree from Indiana University and holds degrees from Bowling Green State University (MM) and Brigham Young University (BA).

Consortium Director - Josh Hettinger

Josh Hettinger is the Director of Bands at the Garrett-Keyser-Butler Community School District in Garrett, IN. He teaches concert bands from grades 5 - 12 as well as Jazz Theory and Improvisation, jazz band, and marching band. Josh holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Music from Indiana University Fort Wayne. While at Garrett, Josh has started dedicated jazz, chamber, and leadership programs in addition to a private lesson program. Ensembles at Garrett have received consistent Gold ratings at contest, and multiple ISSMA All-Music Awards. Most recently, the Railroader Regiment marching band advanced to the ISSMA State Finals in school history. Josh and his wife, Riley, reside in Fort Wayne with their two children, James and Noelle.

Consortium Membership

BUY-IN $250 per ensemble
To become a consortium member, please buy-in using the paypal link below. For other arrangements such as checks, please email the Consortium Director Josh Hettinger at [email protected]