Commissioned by a consortium of symphonic bands led by the Illinois State University and conductor TJ Mack. First performance by the Illinois State University Symphonic Band and conductor TJ Mack at the Center for the Performing Arts in Normal, IL in November 2024.

SHUFFLE (2023-24)
for symphonic band

Scored for 2+pic.2.3+bcl.2asx+tsx+bsx.2/3.2.3.1.1/6 perc./pno

Percussion List: Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Vibraphone, Marimba, Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine, 4 Temple Blocks, Whip, Drum Set

PROGRAM NOTE
Last year, I composed a wind ensemble piece titled “Metaphors” which was inspired by a piece I wrote for an electronic music course. When writing the program notes for the work, I mentioned I didn’t take much inspiration or listened to much electronic music when writing the piece. I realized later that this was not true. After surfing through the music on my phone, I realized that I was drawing inspiration from many different genres subconsciously. Not only was electronic music finding its way into my classical works, but I could also notice jazz, pop, hip-hop, and even rock influences when looking back at my old works. This made me realize that my music and I are the sum of our parts and it’s better to acknowledge and lean into it rather than stay away from it. Shuffle is just that. A piece that merges pop, electronic, and jazz idioms with Western classical composition techniques intentionally draws from and connects our classical world to the one of popular music and brings lively, dance music to the concert stage.

CONSORTIUM MEMBERS
Alexander Gonzalez, Southern Oregon University (Ashland, OR)
Allison Allender, Monticello High School (Monticello, IL)
Andrew H. Davis, Reavis High School (Burbank, IL)
Brian Boron & Cody Halberstadt Glenbrook South High School (Glenview, IL)
Brian T. Harris & Kappa Kappa Psi, Nu Gamma Robert Morris University (Moon Township, PA)
Chris Barnum, Prospect High School (Mt. Prospect, IL)
Geoff DeSpain, Eastern Arizona College (Thatcher, AZ)
J. Nick Smith, Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti, MI)
Josh Waymire, Valley High School (West Des Moines, IA)
Justin M. Johnson, Niles West High School (Skokie, IL)
Kathy Perring Parge and Ted Parge (Houston, TX)
Keith Levin, Crystal Lake Central High School (Crystal Lake, IL)
Norman Wika, Saginaw Valley State University (Saginaw, MI)
Pamela L. Klena, Oakland University (Rochester, MI)
Patrick Neff, West Park High School (Roseville, CA); Paul Carter, Normal Community High School (Normal, IL)
Quinten Breach, Tri-Valley High School (Downs, IL)
Rachel J. Maxwell, Traughber Junior High School (Oswego, IL)
Ryan Cabildo, McHenry Community High School (McHenry, IL)
Timothy Kaiser, Oklahoma Baptist University (Shawnee, OK)
Scot Schickel, Pontiac Township High School (Pontiac, IL)
Victor Anderson, Greg Hensel, & John Sierakowski, West Aurora High School Bands (Aurora, IL)
Zachary G. Hilligoss, Metamora Township High School (Metamora, IL)

Duration: ca. 8 minutes

SELECTED PERFORMANCES
Libertyville High School Band, Adam Gohr, CBDNA Conference, Ann Arbor, MI, Apr. 2026 [upcoming]
University of Illinois, Kim Fleming, Urbana, IL, Oct. 2025
Eastern Michigan University, J. Nick Smith, Ypsilanti, MI, Oct. 2025
Robert Morris University,Brian Harris, Moon Township, PA, May 2025
Southern Oregon University, Alex Gonzalez, Ashland, OR, Mar. 2025
Oakland University, Pam Klena, Rochester, MI, Feb. 2025
Oklahoma Baptist University, Timothy Kaiser, Shawnee, OK, Dec. 2024
Illinois State University, TJ Mack, Normal, IL, Nov. 2024

Recording by the Illinois State University Symphonic Band and conductor TJ Mack at the Center for the Performing Arts in Normal, IL in November 2024.