Student Composers' Forum

Program

Test_run.mp3 (2025)| Christian Glascock (b. 2000)
Shannon Lotti, flute; fixed media

Test_run.mp3 is shaped by the bold, boundary-pushing aesthetics of hyperpop and EDM. Influenced by artists such as SOPHIE and Charli XCX, the piece reframes the flute as a leading voice within a vivid, high-energy electronic sound world. 

First Real Thoughts (2022) | Henry Hartley (b. 2001)
Henry Hartley and Megan Strait, oboe

This duet has two separate ideas that it embodies: On the purely artistic hand, it attempts to capture the complexities of innocent, childhood minds and how those minds interpret the world. Specifically, this piece expresses the idea of someone's first conscious thoughts as their brain starts to become self-aware. A child could be playing, ignorant of their own place in the universe, but eventually, their mind will start to comprehend the world in a more sophisticated way. The first of these advanced comprehensions might be off-putting, confusing and intimidating, however, these minds are still childlike and carefree, so they may dismiss the first of these "real thoughts" and continue playing blissfully, even though adults may linger on such notions. This is the dichotomy of First Real Thoughts. The second idea of this piece is a much more personal one to me. This piece was commissioned by and written for Megan Strait, who among many other things, was the first person I ever got to meet at Butler University. I wanted this piece to commemorate Megan and how special she has made my time at Butler. The day of my audition, she personally sought me out and made a point to talk to me. She set the standard for the amazing community and company that the music school at Butler is all about from day one. Megan Strait gave me my First Real Thoughts about where I wanted to spend my undergraduate years and it was that kindness that eventually played a huge role in my college decision. It was an honor to write this piece to celebrate Megan Strait's final semester at Butler University.

Pedestrian Moments (2026) | Shawn Muench (b. 1992)
 Ryan Moore, clarinet in Bb; Shawn Muench, piano

Pedestrian Moments explores transformations of daily life into times of excitement, confusion, change, and ultimately triumph. These are moments when we are pulled out of life patterns and which form the basis for our change in personhood. Then, simple themes and moments are lived in an altered way for the rest of our lives.

Nocturne (2025)| Lucas Sparrow (b. 2003)
Benjamin Bates, euphonium; Shawn Muench, piano

~INTERMISSION~

...of your eyes and ears... (2026)| Eleanor Margraf (b. 2006) 
Eleanor Margraf, radio

Fall and Frolic | Peyton Gray (b. 2001) 
Wesley Nielsen, Peyton Gray, David Franklin, tenor trombones; Ryan Hogue, bass trombone

Fall and Frolic is a representation of the autumn season. The slow section in the beginning is a slow, harmonically dense chorale that represents the leaves slowly changing color before falling off the trees. The fast section immediately following is groovy and more rhythmically-driven, representing the leaves blowing and dancing in the wind.

I ❤️ Head | Orson Abram (b. 2002)
Orson Abram, styrofoam head

A piece exploring the timbres and sonic potentials of styrofoam head.

Vulgar Meditations (2023) | Alric Godfrey (b. 1997) 
Brayan Contreras, violin

Vulgar meditations is a piece that emanates two very contrasting ideas. Meditation is generally seen as a calm, reserved and refined activity but how then can it be vulgar. In this piece one can find an almost meditative atmosphere but timid, distracting and boisterous at the same time. This can easily be seen when clear drawn out notes suddenly begin to slowly transform to harsh scratch tones; a slow and calm tempo suddenly becomes impatient; sudden rapid gestures; delicate but timid like textures. This piece in a sense is an expression of our minds as we attempt to participate in activities that require high-mindedness while battling our most natural and true selves: the primitive animal. There is always that vulgar psyche within us, we just pretend to not notice it.

Omer Kurtulus Tribute Band (2026) | Noah Simon (1998), Collin McEneaney (2000), Orson Abram (2002)
Orson Abram, laptop electronics; Collin McEneaney, mixer; Noah Simon, slide guitar

Breakfast is bing-bong dubai chocolate soup heavenly theorem 🧖‍♂️ but 🥶 bread crumbs baby monopoly que? wirecutters sheet metal sliced memoji 🦧 bongles antiquated rizzler slurped gloving stepladder softly labubu🧛‍♂️HOG nose snake