After 500 hours of writing, editing, engraving, and meetings since the start of 2022, Evan’s large-scale work, “Desert Tales” (a Dance Suite for Wind Ensemble), will be receiving its debut at the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center Plough Performance Hall on Tuesday, April 25th at 7:30pm. Closing the final University of Memphis Wind Ensemble concert of the school year, this work is a tribute to his freshman year of college undergrad. At its core, it is acknowledging the supportive friends he made, the amazing mentors he is thankful to study with, the gratitude of being able to study music at a higher level as a first generation student, all of the new music he heard and played, and being given the chance to create the work at all.
The work follows the story of a group of nomads travelling through the desert, eventually stumbling upon the annual parade and gathering in a Sultan’s kingdom. During the celebration, there is a trial sentencing some of the kingdom’s most wanted individuals to a very harsh punishment: banishment to “The Tiger Cave.” The final movement is a depiction of the journey to the cave, one last celebration and dance by the inmates, and then fighting for their lives. It is up to the listener to decide who won.
For the first time in the university’s history, this piece marks the collaboration between a student composer, a student ensemble, and the student dance studio! There has never been an on campus collaboration of wind ensemble and dance members, and “Desert Tales” will feature a uniquely choreographed visual element to accompany this rhythmically evocative work. Be sure to mark your calendars! This is a major stride in Evan’s career.
The program will be available here the day of the concert.