News

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

NDSU Composition Studio Releases Northern Harmony, an Anthology of 2024 Compositions

For Immediate Release

Fargo, ND – The North Dakota State University Composition Studio is proud to announce the release of Northern Harmony, a new anthology showcasing a selection of 2024 compositions by NDSU student and faculty composers. Published by Fargo Composers Press, this collection represents an important step in fostering a student-run music press at NDSU.

At NDSU, composition is more than just an academic exercise—it’s a pathway to real-world musicianship. NDSU places a strong emphasis on both the artistic and commercial aspects of being a composer, ensuring that student composers gain experience in preparing their work for performance and publication. The pieces featured in Northern Harmony are not just written for coursework; they are intended to be performed, published, and shared. Some works in the anthology have already been premiered, others were created for the studio’s Score Wars competition, and several are even available for purchase through music retailers—marking a significant step toward professional engagement for these young composers.

This inaugural collection highlights a diverse range of works, including solo, chamber, choral, and ensemble pieces. Among the featured compositions are submissions from the first two rounds of Score Wars, NDSU’s innovative composition competition, alongside works from The Contrabassoon Character Piece Project. The anthology also includes new works by members of the NDSU composition studio.

Northern Harmony Features:

• General Works
  • Owen Cary – Bread and Butter (solo piano)
  • Owen Cary – White Moon (SATB chorus and piano)
  • Jonathon Erickson – Umami (clarinet quartet or clarinet choir)
  • Jon Meier – Averill (marimba)
  • Jon Meier – Eminence (wind ensemble)
  • Henry Radoc – Aria: Alone…Stranded at Sea (soprano and piano)
  • Sylvie Winje – Memories (solo piano)
  • Dr. Martin Van Klompenberg – Sonorasaurus (bassoon trio)
• The Contrabassoon Character Piece Project
  • Jonathon Erickson – The Treants March (contrabassoon and piano)
  • Dr. Kyle Vanderburg – Miniwashitu (contrabassoon and piano)
• Score Wars: Round 1 (Solo Piano)
  • Isabelle Haring – Harvest
  • Percy Johnson – Bottiglia
  • Nick Palmer – Agriculture of FFA
  • Caleb Roth – Grandpa’s Ranch
  • Connor Straub – A Field of Suns
• Score Wars: Round 2 (Flute, Clarinet, and Piano)
  • Jonathon Erickson – El Terror de Frestón
  • Harrison Hanson – Wind Millody
  • Percy Johnson – The Gargantuan Cyclical Flower
  • Nick Palmer – Windy Windmill
  • Caleb Roth – Building the Windmill
  • Connor Straub – Silent Revolutions

For more information about the NDSU composition program, see https://ndsucomposition.com.