HITTING THE HIGH NOTES

Musician and aspiring composer William Clegg's 2024 has been nothing short of stellar, and with his recent appointment as a Band Captain for 2025, he's already aiming for even greater heights. Plus Ultra Editor, Shannon King caught up with William about the year’s highlights.

William (Year 11) was one of 29 secondary students selected for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra's Compose Program this year. He was tasked with creating a composition inspired by the theme of 'Home'. The result was Reflections, a piece he described as "pastoral and flowing", designed to evoke feelings of comfort and safety. The Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) was so impressed by William's work that they included it in their 2024 regional tour repertoire. This marked the first time the QSO has featured a student composition in their statewide performances, with Reflections played in towns including Chinchilla, Roma, Tara, St George and Gladstone.

Following this success, the QSO invited William to compose a new work for a cello ensemble performed at QSO's Chamber Players concert in Brisbane on 13 October. His composition, Lament, drew inspiration from choral and church music, as well as the distinct sound of the cello. Without a clear vision at first, William allowed the music to evolve, weaving elements from earlier works into the final piece.

"The great thing about writing music is that nothing is ever really wasted. Even ideas from completely dead projects worm their way into new ones," he shared. "The main motif of the piece is something that I wrote earlier and only just now decided to use."

William also relished the challenge of composing for a single instrument. "Writing for such a limited ensemble was also really interesting, and I now have a much better understanding of how to create variety and interest with a limited tonal palette."

Though William was unwell on the day of the QSO concert, he had the opportunity to attend a rehearsal and hear his piece performed. "It's always surreal hearing something you've spent so much time on being brought to life. It's one of my favourite parts of the composition process," he said. "Being able to work with the musicians one-on-one is an irreplaceable experience, and sometimes they bring new and interesting ideas to the table."

In addition to his accomplishments this year, William won the Years 11–12 composition section of the Quota Beenleigh City of Logan Eisteddfod with another piece, written for a concert band, in July. Adjudicator Nicole Murphy praised the work as "creative and engaging". She commented, "I am particularly impressed by the variety of your rhythmic expression/vocabulary and the beautiful colours in the woodwind orchestration...".

William's journey is even more remarkable because he's only been composing for a short time. He started dabbling in music composition at age 14 and wrote his piece for the QSO Compose Program at 15, all while balancing his other musical commitments and schoolwork. William is also a talented multi-instrumentalist, playing euphonium, trombone and bass trombone in three ensembles at St Peters—Symphonic Winds, Senior Stage Band and Senior Jazz Combo—and in the Young Conservatorium program. This latter commitment involves five hours each week outside of school, in addition to concert commitments.

In the September holidays, William played euphonium in the Wind Orchestra for the Australian Honours Ensemble Program at the Queensland Conservatorium. He was one of three students selected from the St Peters Band program and one of 280 selected from over 1000 applicants.

William is excited to be named a Band Captain for 2025. Beyond assisting the St Peters Music Department and providing leadership for the students involved in the Band program, he hopes to inspire more students to embrace music. "I've had some really enjoyable experiences with mentoring, and I really want more young people to find their passion in music," he shared.

In terms of his own musical future, William hopes to focus on jazz playing and improvisation and plans to form a small jazz group with friends. He also has several composition projects in the works. After graduating from St Peters, he intends to study a double major in jazz trombone and composition at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.

Though managing his music, leadership and study commitments will be challenging, William is confident in his ability to juggle everything. "In the past year, I've started using music as a break from my study, which helps me stay focused on my work. It's still been a struggle, but with planning and good time management, it can be navigated around."

As William looks ahead to his final year at St Peters, he’s keen to build on his musical journey and continue pushing his creative boundaries. His impressive accomplishments in composition and performance, coupled with his leadership as a Band Captain, are a result of his dedication, talent and drive. With his eyes set on a future jazz career, William is undoubtedly poised to make an impact at the College and within the broader music community. The 2025 school year promises even more exciting milestones for this gifted young musician.

Article by: Shannon King, Editor