Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, instead of presenting a guest artist, we will be broadcasting the world premieres of the winning pieces from the Solo Works Competition performed by the composers.

Thomas Rüedi | Evan Zegiel

Solo Works Competition 2020 Winners

Unaccompanied Solo Student Euphonium
In Modo Humano by Thomas Rüedi

Thomas Rüedi is a Swiss-born international euphonium artist, music educator, composer, and arranger. His solo engagements have led him throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, and the United States. Rüedi is professor of euphonium and chamber music at Bern University of the Arts and Lucerne University of the Arts; as a guest professor he regularly gives masterclasses throughout Europe and overseas. He is also an acclaimed arranger and composer, supporting the further development and enrichment of the euphonium repertoire—in particular, music for younger players.

PROGRAM NOTES: In Modo Humano (In A Human Way) is set out to explore some of the characteristics which mostly define us as who we are, as human beings. The first movement “La Fantasia” (Fantasy) plays with the imagination and creativity through the means of different sound colors, textures, and motions. The spirit is calm and thoughtful, but also has a sense of daring optimism through trying out different ideas. The second movement “La gioia” (Joy), explores the feeling of great pleasure and happiness; in the middle section, Beethoven sends his regards with a quote from the Pastoral Symphony, entitled Scene by the Bank of a Stream. The third movement “L’amore” (Love), freely follows the feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend; the music flows gently in the form of a Sicilienne. The fourth movement “La curiosità” (Curiosity) plays with the characteristics of inquisitiveness — the desire to learn or know about anything!

Unaccompanied Solo Student Tuba
Climate Strike by Evan Zegiel

Evan Zegiel is an active tubist, composer, and brass educator. He frequently performs across Southeast Michigan and has played with the Baltimore (MD) and Charlotte (NC) Symphonies. Zegiel performs regularly in chamber music settings and is co-founder, with Anthony DeMartinis, of BrassTaps Duo, a tuba and percussion duo which has commissioned multiple works by student and professional composers to expand the available repertoire for both instruments. Zegiel is also an active composer, currently studying Michigan State University. Zegiel won first place in the Falcone Festival Tuba Student (2013) and Tuba Artist (2017) divisions

PROGRAM NOTES: Climate Strike is structured in three roughly through-composed movements, each one reflecting an issue related to the changing climate of our world. The first movement reflects the most recent and devastating brush fires all over Australia, and presents the performer with challenging rhythmic motives which are developed in unexpected ways, representing the unpredictable nature of the sparking embers which ignite brush fires. The second movement meditates on the reality of the melting glaciers at the poles of the Earth, the consequent loss of habitat for arctic creatures, and the rising sea levels in coastal regions; the indication for an unstable tempo at the beginning should be taken literally throughout the movement. The final movement, Super-Hurricane, imagines the possibility of intense, world-changing storms in the future; the musical gestures resemble gusting winds. The reality of climate change will have dire consequences for all the species of the world unless decisive action is taken by humanity at every level of society. I was inspired to write this work after watching and reading of the recent climate change protests taking place in various parts of the world by schoolchildren.

The Falcone Festival held the 2020 Solo Works Competition to commemorate our 35th anniversary. These two winning pieces, performed by their composers, will be included in the 2020 Festival and are included in the required repertoire list for the 2021 Festival student division competitions. Honorable Mention winners are: “Modal Suite”* by Kayla Danielle Roth & “Subject to Change” by Andrew P. Markel (euphonium) and “The Mechanicals”* by Edmund Joliffe and “Whale Songs”* by Lynn Blake John (tuba).
*published by Cimarron Music Press