Description
Uplifting and full of life, this piece was written to honor a band student named Parker, a sixth-grade saxophonist who was diagnosed with brain cancer. Parker chose the title, “Ever-hope,” meaning being in a continuous and persistent state of having hope, despite challenges or difficulties. This piece celebrates people coming together in extraordinary ways, having hope despite hardship, and the positive impact of Parker and every other child whose strength inspires.
Program Notes
“Ever-hope” was commissioned by the Ray Middle School Bands in Baldwinsville, NY, in honor of a band student named Parker. It premiered in June 2025 under the direction of both Tim Moshier, band director, and Parker!
Parker, a sixth-grade Saxophonist, had been diagnosed with brain cancer a few months earlier in December, right after the December concert. He had actually been quite ill the day before the diagnosis but fought through being sick so that he could still play in the concert. The June premiere of this piece also became a fundraiser for Griffin’s Guardians, the charity of Parker’s choice that supports families affected by pediatric cancer in Central New York. The organization’s roots are in hockey, which Parker loves, and he hopes to return to the ice very soon.
Overall, I wanted to compose a piece that sounds vibrant, uplifting, and full of life. The mallet lines and upper Woodwinds at the beginning create a bouncy, spring-like intro, followed by a main theme intended to sound positive and confident. The term “ever-hope” means being in a continuous and persistent state of having hope, despite challenges or difficulties. Parker helped decide the title, and as it suggests, this piece celebrates people coming together in extraordinary ways, the hope that can emerge even in the face of hardship, and the positive impact of Parker and every other child whose strength inspires.
