Student Composers Forum April 7th

Program

PART ONE

 Jabberwocky (2025)  |  Nicholas J. Trevino (2006) 

Nicholas J. Trevino (Voice) & Eleanor Margraf (Bassoon)

Program note: A setting of “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll

‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

      Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

      And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

      The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

      The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand;

      Long time the manxome foe he sought—

So rested he by the Tumtum tree

      And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,

      The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

      And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through

      The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

He left it dead, and with its head

      He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?

      Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”

      He chortled in his joy.

‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

      Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

      And the mome raths outgrabe.

— Lewis Carroll, 1871

Fairy Footprints (2026)   |  Szu-An Chen (2001) 

Liam Battle, cello

Program note: Fairy footprints can only be found if you look closely.·.˙⋆.˚ ⊂⌹ ส̖ ˖.𑖔 ށ ˖𓓃. ށ˖⬒˚.⋆. ށ

Psalm 5 and Psalm 9  |  Rachel Moeller (2003) 

Macy Strauss - soprano, Che Dixon - cello

Program note: This is my attempt at starting a simple psalm cycle, more to come.

Todestrieb (2023)  |  Lukas James Bass (2003)  

Rachel Moeller (Flute)

Skratch! (2026)  |   E.M. Gaspar (2002) 

Jake Loitz - Baritone Saxophone

Program note: Skratch! is a bombastic piece that mixes the style and sounds of DJ record scratching with classical ideas and development, all within one short piece.

Small Forest in the City (2026)  |  Gabe Manisco (2001)  

Saxophone Quartet: Jake Loitz, Chandler Creedon, Hannah Huddle, Helen Kangas

Program note: Portrays the feelings one might get when entering a patch of greenery surrounded by an overwhelming concrete jungle.

$VP3RP|-|411V$, 2026  |  Orson Abram (2002) 

The Big Su Saxophone Quartet: Garrett Evans, Jake Loitz, Sam Valancy, Adam Hanna, Saxophone Quartet

Program note: saxophone as orifice.

TECH DEMO (2026)  |  Collin McEneaney (2000) 

Collin McEneaney and Dean Kyle (Instrumentation is mostly self contained technology. Max patch out to house (maybe 4 outputs))

Program note: Tech genius, Collin, is unveiling his latest AI electronic music doodad but first he must atone for his sins. (No generative AI was used to create this piece)

Uno (2025)  |  Colton Ogg (2005) 

Performers: Vocalists: Colton Ogg, Jake Grafitti, Aidan Johnston, Gavric Herring

Program note: Uno is a game of chance.

INTERMISSION

Aria (2026), for voice and baroque ensemble  |  Eleanor Margraf (b.2006) 

Nicholas J. Trevino - voice, Eleanor Margraf - alto recorder, Noah Simon - harpsichord, Dominic Gomez, cello

Program note: I baroque it...

Text by Eleanor Margraf

I Step Into Infinity (2026)  |  Lucas Sparrow (2003)

Violin - Gabe Manisco; Piano - Shawn Muench

La Rosa - English Horn Solo Nr. 1 (2024) |  Ramon Kulwicki (2005) 

Shawn Meunch - Piano, Ramon Kulwicki - English Horn

Program note: La Rosa, along with a mixed flute piece, was a debut composition while I was studying at Ball State University. This piece is written as a tribute to where I come from and how I shall progress as a person and an artist. Audience members are encouraged to hype up the performers during the piece whether it be verbally or with gestures.

Accepted: I. Shock, II. Lost, III. Acceptance  |  Bradlee Keaffaber (2001)  

Emily Dyko: Flute, Shawn Muench: Piano, Peyton Gray: Trombone

Program note: Accepted is a journey through processing my emotions in multiple mediums as I navigated through certain events in my past. This piece represents a reflection and also a testament to what I’ve gone through and how it had made me who I am today. I can say now that I am thankful for this journey and am now able to see the goodness of these particular emotional struggles.

This Place Holds Space, 2026  |  Will Hermanowski (2000)  

Bird Birmingham (horn), Dean Kyle Johnston (percussion), Will Hermanowski (melodica)

Program note: Give those ears a break and exist in this space.

where am i? (2026)  |  Ezra Simmons (2003)  

Ezra Simmons (synths)

Program note: TBA

Werkin (2026)  |  Christian Glascock (2000) 

Jordan Weir, bassoon and fixed media

Program note: "Werkin" uses audio from a Nelson Sullivan video from 1984 that outlines the struggles of the life of Drag Queens at that time. The audio features the voice of a young Ru Paul after a performance one night in New York City. This piece amplifies the struggle of queer people at this time in history, and gives the opportunity to highlight these queer artists whos own struggles challenged rigid norms around gender and identity that have greatly influenced the lives of queer people almost 50 years later. 

Apathy (2026)  |  Sarah Hertenstein (2005)  

Drum set and Electronics

Program note: When the world turns it’s back on you, how will you survive?

Total Duration: ~115 minutes music + intermission = approximately 130–135 minutes