Spellbound
Ensemble
Flute, Oboe, B-flat Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, 2 Percussion, Harp, 2 Violins, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
Duration
Approx. 8 minutes
Recording
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Score
Notes
Reflecting on my 10-year-old composition, Spellbound, has led me to a deeper appreciation for my distinctive creative voice. Over the years, I’ve come to see how embracing my own mind—its quirks, its wandering paths—has shaped my unique sound. While music school often emphasized the “problems” with my compositions, I now see that what was once labeled as “scatterbrained” or “indecisive” is actually an essential part of my musical identity.
Spellbound captures the bittersweet feeling of falling in love with a place—Eugene—just as I was preparing to leave it behind. Even now, I can see the decisions I made in Spellbound as reflections of my growth—as a composer, as a person with ADHD, and as someone learning to navigate life’s many transitions. The piece embodies my journey to assert my voice and embrace my neurodivergence, even when it challenged expectations. Composing Spellbound taught me to listen to myself, trust my instincts, and let go of the need for external validation—lessons I now share with my students.
Spellbound was first premiered in 2012 at Brevard Music Center with a 17-piece ensemble—at the time, the largest instrumentation for a BMC new music concert. It was performed once more in 2013 by The University of Texas New Music Ensemble, led by Ben Stonaker.
World Premiere
February 18, 2013 at The University of Texas at Austin New Music Ensemble (Brendan Ryan, Bethany Lawrence, Tim Skinner, Alex Perez, Katie Clark, Paul Blackstone, Joe Cooper, Blair Castle, Tristan Boyd, Meredith McCay, Hanna Hurwitz, Kyoung-Joo Sung, Angela Grasso, Anna Záborszky, Tejs Dragheim), Bates Recital Hall at the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music.
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