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The Buckeye Philharmonic Orchestra at Ohio State is seeking to commission a musical composition. Scored for a full symphonic orchestra, the composition will integrate fragments of the Ohio State University alma mater, Carmen Ohio. Jason Wyse will be the composer for this piece. Mr. Wyse graduated from Ohio State with a Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting in 2003. He is currently Director of Bands at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School. The piece will be premiered in May 2018 at Buckeye Philharmonic’s final concert of the Spring 2018 semester.
This particular idea for the piece came from one of Mr. Wyse’s previous compositions entitled Loyal Sons and Daughters, a homage to his high school students that thoughtfully incorporates the high school’s alma mater using creative compositional techniques. We are extremely excited to see what he can do with our beautiful Carmen Ohio in what is sure to be a special homage to The Ohio State University.
This project is very special for Buckeye Philharmonic, a young organization that is only in its fifth year of existence. Due to budget constraints, we have been constricted to playing public domain music that we can access for free. This hinders our ability to be exposed to music that was written within the past 100 years or so, depending entirely on when the copyright of a particular piece expires. We thought that a perfect way to leap out of this repertoire constraint is to fund a brand new piece of music and even have it personalized for this university!
There are several reasons we are excited about commissioning a new piece of music:
Allows us the opportunity to rehearse and perform something that nobody has ever heard before!
Adds to the relatively small collection of modern orchestral works, as this piece would be available for other ensembles to perform
Advances our young organization and broadens our horizons of what we are capable of accomplishing
The first orchestra piece written for Ohio State, using our beautiful alma mater, Carmen Ohio!
Due to our connection and vicinity to the composer, we will be working with Mr. Wyse to make this an individualized experience. It is an extremely exciting prospect to be able to work with the composer, an opportunity that is impossible with any public domain music!
This composition will undoubtedly strike a chord with the entire Ohio State community, depicting the beauty and power of this wonderful institution.
Composer Biography
Jason Wyse is Director of Bands at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School (OH), where he directs the 300-member “Marching Bees,” Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, teaches AP Music Theory, and assists with Middle School concert bands. The BBHHS Wind Ensemble studies and performs advanced wind band literature, and has consistently received Superior ratings at OMEA adjudicated events in Class A and AA. Previously, Mr. Wyse served as Associate Director of Bands at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School and Director of Bands at Punxsutawney Area High School (PA). He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Grove City College (PA) in 2001, and his Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting from The Ohio State University in 2003, where he studied conducting with Russel Mikkelson and Richard Blatti, and horn with Chuck Waddell. Recognized as an Ohio Department of Education “Master Teacher,” Mr. Wyse is also a member of the Ohio Music Educators Association, an honorary member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, and has been recognized in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and National Honor Roll’s Outstanding American Teachers. Mr. Wyse is an active composer and arranger, and has several works published with Brass Arts Unlimited. He lives in Copley, OH, with his wife Julie and their sons Trevor and Tyler.
Written for two people. Duets are always fun to play with your musical friends!
A popular medium for chamber music. Did you know that Joseph Haydn wrote 68 string quartets, on top of his numerous symphonies and other compositions?
An orchestra consisting solely of bowed string instruments. A vast amount of repertoire is available for string orchestra, ranging from classical compositions of Mozart and Haydn to 20th century compositions of Stravinsky.
Make room on stage for, at times, up to 100 musicians! A symphonic orchestra is comprised of four groups of instruments: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.
Be named on every copy of Jason Wyse’s piece as a co-commissioner!