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For Two Bb Trumpets
Duration: 1'30"
I met Emmett O'Brien and Jake Burrows while I was completing my master's at the University of Illinois. I worked with both of them in the Marching Illini, and Emmett in various concert bands and my master's recital. I fell out of touch with them after I graduated, until December 2022 when I ran into them in the registration line for the Midwest Clinic. I was happy to discover that they were both teaching and lived only an hour away from me. I've truly enjoyed being a part of their lives over the past three and a half years, and was thrilled but unsurprised when I heard they got engaged. This piece is a wedding gift for them!
Since they are both trumpet players (they play together in the Lakeside Pride Pops Ensemble, in addition to other pursuits), I wanted to write them a piece to play together that reflects how their different personalities work well together. In the tradition of Bernstein, the piece is named for their dog Moose, who always seems very excited when I visit.