Community

This piece was inspired by the view of Holmes Lake in Lincoln, Nebraska at sunset. Next to the lake is Hyde Observatory, and it seemed to me that the long hill opposite the lake looked like an old man settling down to sleep under the stars. Flowing lines in the woodwinds and cascading figures in the guitar represent the motion of water and the twinkling of stars in the lake's reflection.

Cyrus Zgud is a third-year student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from Lincoln, Nebraska, pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education with emphasis in Composition. In college, Cyrus has explored a variety of musical involvements. As a composer he has had several pieces featured in the university’s Flyover New Music Series, at concerts both on campus and in the wider community. This semester, he has also partnered with the Community Learning Center at Lefler Middle School to host a music after-school club.

Philtatos - translates to 'most beloved' in Ancient Greek Philtatos is based on a poem by KaeLynn Adrian, telling the story of two lovers trying to find their way through the changing seasons and landscapes of life. They find themselves constantly in a cycle of being apart and being brought back together, all the while knowing in the end, even in the dark of night, the owls will sing for them to guide them back to each other. Philtatos is dedicated to my amazing girlfriend, KaeLynn Adrian. Thank you for teaching me what it means to live by the feather, die by the sword.

From the very beginning, music was a fundamental part of Leah’s life. Beginning piano lessons at six year old, and surrounded by a family that loved music as much as they loved each other, it quickly became an irreplaceable part of her existence. She currently studies Composition at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, as well as Computer Engineering. With her works, Leah hopes to explore the depths of both nuance and popular culture, to create music that can be experienced in the same, unified way by experienced musicians and casual listeners alike.

Eyes meet Then hands A world of darkness subdued by glowing light By the fires and crackling embers Of a hearth that’s bringing comfort From the winter’s harshest snow If death is forever, what does it mean to be buried along with each other Death is forever, what does it mean to be buried along with each other Death is forever, what does it mean to be buried along with each other Death is forever, what does it mean to be buried along with each other Memories fade Capes and royalty Hours slip as starlight becomes the sun There’s no need for words Sunlight rushing in Through windows long forgotten Summer’s dawn begins Philtatos What does it truly mean To live by the feather Stain our hands with ink What are we Without remnants of each other Will the birds sing these songs too Hours slip as sunlight fades into dusk Owls sing sweet musings They sing for us Philtatos

"Flow” means continuous motion, or motion without resistance. The word describes physical matter, such as the movement of water in a stream, but it is also used in psychology to describe the feeling of unparalleled concentration on a task to the point that one’s perception of time disappears. The title of this piece refers to both the character of the music and the process of writing the piece. I rarely am able to focus on one task at a time, so I relish the rare moments when I am in a creative flow state and can write without resistance. These ideas appear in the piece through the gradual, organic unfolding of melodic ideas in the tuba interwoven with long accompanimental lines in the piano.”

Originally from Montgomery, Alabama, Kathryn Hardgrave began her musical career as a pianist. She discovered a passion for composition during her collegiate studies and had the opportunity to attend a composition summer program at the Brevard Music Center in 2024, where she received her first premiere. Since then, Kathryn has had works premiered by high school and collegiate ensembles across the country, and is currently pursuing graduate studies in composition at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has studied with Dr. Joshua Burel, Dr. Gregory Simon, and Dr. David von Kampen.

“Midnight Capriccio” is a four-hands piano piece originally written to be played at the Lied Center Piano Academy, although this rendition will be its premiere. The piece opens with a dark, roiling chromatic line in F minor which is quickly interrupted by an equally energetic but much more playful lydian melody in the high register of the piano. The original line soon returns, and the two ideas tussle against each other before the sound of bells marks the arrival of a dreamy, melancholic waltz. The waltz grows and meanders through various keys, eventually allowing the first themes to return in a slower, quasi-developmental section, after which the music once again swells and accelerates before being interrupted: this time by a full chorus of bells that herald a gentle, romantic chorale-like section. The waltz returns once again, visiting the opening key of F minor once more before sending the listener off with an extended, rising Ab Major chord. The piece evokes a variety of nocturnal textures, from the fear of something hiding in the bushes to the serenity of basking in the moonlight. Hopefully, you’ll be able to come up with your own story to go along with it too.

selene likes writing about things that she finds beautiful. She places emphasis on melody and expressive harmonic shifts to create colorful atmospheres that evoke the fantastical visions she sees in her head. Her works are often accompanied by senses of longing, wonder, or awe; she interprets these feelings as a sort of nostalgia for a life she’s never actually lived. She hopes that through music, these visions can be brought closer to reality, and that by doing she can inspire others to create their own beauty in the world. That is why, when listening to her work, she advises you to sit back, close your eyes and dream <3

This piece takes us back to the Wild West, in the shoes of an outlaw. Our outlaws big break will be decided on their next big heist, a train robbery. Will they make it big, or will their past catch up to them. Find out soon!

Colin Worthington is a composer/performer from Omaha Nebraska. He is an active member in the music community and has been a part of, wind ensemble, symphonic band, repertory jazz ensemble, jazz orchestra, jazz combos, and the Cornhusker Marching band. Much of his compositions are inspired by jazz and musical theater. When not composing or practicing he spends his free time twiddling his thumbs

___________________________________________________________________________

Intermission / Awards

___________________________________________________________________________

This is a 3 movement progressive rock piece about a tree falling over in a storm. The first movement follows the tree, the second follows the storm, and the third is about the ruin afterward.

Nate Buettner began composition almost 4 years ago, quickly gaining notoriety that snowballed into writing his high school's one act a couple years later. Now, he's a sophomore composition performance major here at UNL.

Through the brush one can see to the tree The largest one of its kind in the scene The animals all a cog in the machine It hosts all manner and form of beings Squirrels rest in the holes of its spire The tree carries all the hatchlings til they fly The bees all dedicate their lives to the hive It sure would be a tragedy if it died The tree is a strand of hair compared to the world, but a haven for life to grow if you watch close Storms approach the tower threatening its crashing, a massacre of death if it starts collapsing Gone with the wind, nothing remains now Try to bring back what once was there Through the brush one can see what once was there It's gone now, and nothing can bring it back The memory is all that's left, the burden's on us to keep it alive, to bring it back

While the word "fête" is simply French for "party", in English-speaking countries it refers to a kind of outdoor festival often held in the countryside during the summer months. They are similar to state and county fairs in the US and have several features in common, including musical performances, cooking contests, raffles, and carnival games. However, the countryside fêtes of the past were often much wilder, with excessive drinking, fights, and even raunchier events. This piece is an exploration of the more acerbic and humorous sounds of the wind quintet with these old village fêtes as inspiration. The music bounces between rhythmic and lyrical sections, evoking both the dances and songs of these events. The performers are asked to play in extremely high and low registers, flutter-tongue, and growl throughout the piece to imitate the more chaotic elements of these festivals.

Ethan Fields (b. 1997) is an American composer, musician, and audio engineer. Originally from Islip, NY, Ethan has written works for several ensembles, including wind ensemble, brass quintet, saxophone duet, chorus, and jazz ensemble. His works have been performed by the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York, the faculty of the SUNY Fredonia School of Music, and the SUNY Fredonia Wind Ensemble A graduate of SUNY at Fredonia, Ethan completed an Mus. B. in Music Composition and a B.S. in Sound Recording Technology in 2019. He also received an M.A. in Audio Arts from Syracuse University in 2022. Additionally, Ethan is the Audio Engineer and IT Associate for the Glenn Korff School of Music at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

The piece entitled "Blossom" was originally created to express the growth within oneself. Many of us go through hardships in our lives that prevent us from developing as people, similar to how flowers cannot bloom without having the right resources. However, the environments that we're in are never faultless. Sometimes we just have to adapt and accept things for the way they are. We'll have doubts, we'll make changes, and we'll reflect on ourselves. But, it is because of these trials, that we'll one day become stronger, and even be able thrive- blossom.

Kevlyn Larvick is a freshman music major here at UNL. She is currently in saxophone studio but is officially switching to composition as of next year. Kevlyn has enjoyed getting to experience meeting more people and coming across new opportunities. She typically enjoys writing for larger ensembles like band and orchestra but also does some smaller works occasionally. Anyways, this is her first Flyover and she's super excited!

Throughout the late 19th and early 20th century, the efforts of American workers to unionize and strike in order to receive just worker protections were frequent and often bloody. This piece seeks to tell the story of the largest of these strikes, the Battle of Blair Mountain in 1921, in which 10,000 coal miners, after facing repression from the mine operators, took up arms and began to fight against the mine operators, along with some local government forces that resisted them. Private planes were hired to drop munitions, including chemical weapons from WWI. The battle ended when troops from the United States Army arrived. Many of the miners refused to fire on US Troops, with a large number being veterans themselves. The Union leaders would come to see the futility of the fighting, and gave word to the miners to begin heading home.

Hayden is a sophomore composition student and jazz musician studying at UNL. He has a strong focus in both traditional and modern jazz composition, utilizing both old and new musical techniques to create an engaging experience for his audience. He also has a deep fascination with history, and enjoys using music to depict historical events through a materialist lens.

___________________________________________________________________________

See you next year