CONSORTIUM COMMISSION
Psychology of FEAR/EXCITEMENT
Duration
4-5 minutes
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Difficulty
Grade 3-3.5
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Buy-in
$375
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CONSORTIUM COMMISSION
Concert Band Consortium Commission
Standard Concert Band plus electronic audio track
4-5 minutes
Grade 3-3.5 (suitable for high schools and advanced middle schools)
Completed by January 30, 2021 and delivered by PDF via email to all consortium members
Buy-in price is $375.
4-5 minutes
Grade 3-3.5 (suitable for high schools and advanced middle schools)
Completed by January 30, 2021 and delivered by PDF via email to all consortium members
Buy-in price is $375.
About the work
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Consortium Director David Lesniak and Composer Benjamin Taylor aim to create an exciting, compelling work exploring the thin line between fear and excitement, as evidenced by our society's love of rollercoasters, horror films, extreme sports, etc. Alex Corb, writing for Psychology Today says, "There is very little physiological difference between fear and excitement." So why is it that we love these things that can potentially scare us? The work will take this question and general theme of the interesting relationship between fear and excitement as it's central theme. For those directors that may have never programmed a work with electronics, please be assured that the electronic track will be as simple as hitting play on the audio track. (Like in Techno Blade, ie, no complicated tech required, and no click track, just a pair of speakers).
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 Skype rehearsal session with any interested band 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 75 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 - David Lesniak
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David Lesniak is the Director of Bands at Plainfield East High School. He has been with Plainfield East since the school opened in August 2008. From 2008-2011, Mr. Lesniak served as a Visiting Lecturer of Music at North Central College (Naperville, IL), teaching courses in Brass Techniques and Advanced Instrumental conducting. Since 2011, Mr. Lesniak has performed on horn as a member of the Naperville Municipal Band and recently completed a 2-year term as the ILMEA District 9 Band Representative. During his time at Plainfield East, Mr. Lesniak has been a recipient of the 2014 D202 Board of Education Award for Excellence and the 2011 PEHS CAPE Bengal Pride Award.
Prior to his appointment at Plainfield East, Mr. Lesniak was the Assistant Director of Bands at Batavia High School from 1999-2008. During his time in Batavia, Mr. Lesniak taught private lessons for both trumpet and F horn, was a performer and conductor with the Aurora Summer Concert Band, served in the office and as a counselor for Showchoir Camps of America, and was on the marching band staff at several high schools in the Chicagoland area. Mr. Lesniak is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Wind Conducting from Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, PA. Prior to that, he received his Master of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music (Chicago, IL) in 2006, and his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from North Central College (Naperville, IL) in 1999, where he was recipient of the Clarence Juhnke Award for Outstanding Music Major. |
Consortium Membership
BUY-IN $375 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 David Lesniak directly at DLesniak@psd202.org
The deadline to join the consortium is October 30, 2020.
To become a consortium member, please buy-in using the paypal link below. For other arrangements such as checks, please email the Consortium Director David Lesniak directly at DLesniak@psd202.org
The deadline to join the consortium is October 30, 2020.
By joining the consortium, member ensembles agree to the following contracted terms:
| contract_consortium_commission_lesniak_perusal.pdf |
Photo attribution: "coastin" by jason saul. Used with permission. CC license on Flickr.com
