“Oh my God. I don’t believe it!”
That was my initial reaction when I read the email from James Doser informing me that my piece, “Heroes & Villains”, was selected as the winner of the Penfield Music Commission Project Composition Competition.
It’s hard to describe the mix of sheer joy and disbelief I felt. Especially since I know there are weaknesses in the piece which I need to work on.
Still… the piece is a heck of a lot of fun. Which must have helped.
And who can resist the title? I must admit, I was quite proud of myself when I thought of it.
But I never expected it to win anything. I suppose it goes to show that you never know what may happen when you get your butt in gear and put yourself out there.
I’ve only entered a handful of competitions in my entire life. For several years after graduate school, I continued to compose in anonymity. I didn’t enter anything. My pieces were never performed. They just sat on my hard drive or hidden in a file cabinet while my career went nowhere.
I finally gave up about 5 years ago, and pursued business and entrepreneurship. I learned a tremendous amount during that foray (like what it takes to be successful), but the drive to compose was always just under the surface.
Then… a few months ago I finally realized I would never be happy unless composing music were a major part of my life. That’s why I got busy again writing, revising, entering competitions. Such as the Penfield Music Commission Project Composition Competition. (Whew, that’s a mouthful!)
Anyway, enough reminiscing.
I’ll be flying up to Rochester, NY on May 25-26 to spend a couple of days with the Penfield H.S. Wind Ensemble. I’m definitely looking forward to it!
Since I’m already going, I’m going to see if I can swing a trip down to NYC to hang out with my buddy Seth for a few days. Haven’t seen him in about 7 years.
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