Program Notes I’ll never forgot being 11 years old and having the trumpet assigned to me for my beginning band class! This seemingly simple decision had major implications on how I spent my teenage years – and still has a major impact on me today as an adult. I named my composition And it Begins because I wanted the work to celebrate the early stages in the journey of becoming a forever band kid. This title is also fitting in a very personal way, because when it was awarded Band Division Winner of the 2015 TMEA College Composition Contest, I earned my first recognition as a composer. Additionally, I earned my first national recognition when it was awarded the winner of the 2016 National Band Association/Alfred Publishing Young Band Composition Contest! I wrote this piece while attending Texas Christian University and had unrivaled support in creating it – And it Begins is truly the product of the arts community, and it will always be special to me.
Performance Notes During the sections marked “Boldly”, each quarter note should be played as a “long lift” and eighth notes should be played “light and separated.” The piece features a snare solo and a low winds feature, as well as extended harmonies in the middle section.
Composer Bio Haley Woodrow is a composer, educator and trumpeter. Haley graduated with a Bachelor of Music in jazz studies from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Master’s of Music in composition from Texas Christian University. She served as Orchestra Director and Arranger for Cornerstone Baptist Church from 2006-2013 in Arlington, Texas where she completed approximately 500 arrangements. Haley’s compositions have received awards from the National Band Association (for And it Begins), the Texas Music Educators Association (for March for Jazz) and the Noteflight Big Band Contest (for Something Entirely Different). She is published by Alfred, Hal Leonard and MurphyMusicPress. Recently Haley has served as the Instructor for the Hillwood Middle School Composition Club in Keller, Texas where she works with middle school band students to create collaborative compositions for their concerts. Haley currently lives in Bedford, Texas, where she is works proudly as a self-employed musician. More at haleywoodrow.com!