Program Notes

Travis Rigby (b. 1991) is a composer, arranger, and educator based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Having grown up in San Antonio Texas, he attended Trinity University where he made the decision to pursue a degree in composition. Under the instruction of Brian Bondari, he developed a strong understanding and passion for large ensemble writing. In 2012, he won the Tennessee Valley Music Festival Young Composers’ Competition with his first orchestral composition, Overture to a Cinematic Adventure. Continuing his focus on large ensemble writing, Travis attended the University of Kansas, where he earned a Master’s degree in composition under the instruction of James Barnes and Ingrid Stölzel. During his time at KU, Travis won the 2015 Robert E. Foster Prize for Sonoran Splendor, which was premiered by the KU Wind Ensemble under the direction of Paul Popiel the following year. Travis was also a finalist for the 2016 Anthony B. Cius Award. Travis’s music is often tonal, tuneful, and inspired by nature. He has written for orchestra, wind ensemble, choir, handbells, chamber ensembles, voice, piano, and organ. He currently holds a position at Westinghouse Arts Academy in Wilmerding, PA where he teaches music theory, history, and composition, and directs all instrumental ensembles.

Mr. Smith is from Mansfield, TX, where he graduated from Mansfield High School in 2015. While at Mansfield Mr. Smith was involved in the Tiger Marching band as a trumpet player and electronic keyboardist. Other ensembles Include the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band I, Men's Chorus and Chamber Choir/ Honor Choir. He is also a graduate from the University of North Texas, where he obtained his undergraduate studies degree in Music Education. His primary instrument, while attending UNT, was the piano and was a part of a plethora ensembles, where he studied with Dr. Nicholas E. Williams, Denis Fisher, Mark Ford, Eugene M. Corporon and Pamela Mia Paul. These ensembles include: The UNT Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, The UNT Green Brigade Marching Band, and the 2 'O Clock and 8 'O Clock Steel Bands. While on Campus he was an active member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity and served on the leadership of the Green Brigade Marching Band as a trumpet section leader. Along with these organizations Mr. Smith Created a music program through the Oak Gardens Church within the inner-city Dallas area where the primary objective was to bring instrumental music to under privileged children. During his time at the Oak Gardens Church he was in charge of teaching as well as creating the curriculum.

John Kosch is a composer based in Kearney, Nebraska. His work as a composer and arranger reflects his diverse musical interests, exploring an array of media and styles ranging from music for jazz orchestra to art song, a cappella arrangements, marching band shows, and electronic music. He particularly enjoys writing music for school and community ensembles, combining his love of composition with his passion for education. His works have garnered several honors, including a Student Downbeat Award, a Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award, first place in the NAfME Young Composers Competition, and a merit award from the Tribeca New Music Young Composer Competition. A Lincoln native, Kosch received his bachelor's degree in music education from the Glenn Korff School of Music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He graduated summa cum laude from the university honors program and was named a Chancellor's Scholar. Kosch is also an active performer and educator. He has appeared with groups such as the Bobby Layne Orchestra, the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra, as well as the Kearney Area Percussion Ensemble, Kearney Community Band, and Platte River Singers. He currently instructs 4-12 instrumental music at Elm Creek Schools, where his bands have received several superior ratings.

Lee “Sparky” Thomason is a trumpet player, composer, arranger, and educator from Rockdale, Texas. A frequent performer in Austin, Temple, and Waco; he is currently playing with the Temple Jazz Orchestra, the Tonic Big Band and Small Group, the N.O.W. (New Original Works) Jazz Orchestra, Duck Soup, and the Urban Achievers Brass Band, and subbing with anybody else whenever the phone rings. He has been arranging and composing big band jazz charts for the past thirty years. His charts have been performed by numerous high school, college, and professional bands all over Texas and Utah, where Thomason lived for seven years.

He has arranged charts for the Latin groups Mambo Jumbo, Latin Breed, Gilbert Alba, and the Super City Band. Thomason wrote and performed his first full orchestra arrangement of "Someone To Watch Over Me" four years ago with the Temple Symphony Orchestra and wrote his first concert band piece, "In the Days of Royal and Old" as a tribute to his high school band, the Big Blue Band from Tigerland of Rockdale, TX. He has written jazz arrangements for trumpet player Keith Fiala, Austin-based jazz trombone group, the Jazzbonez, and a brass quintet arrangement of his own tune, "Ludis Blues" for the brass quintet, the Brass Connection. Thomason has also recently began writing music for the British brass ensembles, as well.