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NDSU Student Composition Recital Showcases Original Works by Emerging Composers

FARGO, N.D. — Students in the North Dakota State University composition program presented an evening of original music during the annual Student Composition Recital on March 20, 2026, in Beckwith Recital Hall.

The concert featured new works by student composers from across the Challey School of Music and highlighted collaborations between composers and performers representing a wide range of instrumental ensembles and musical styles.

The program included original works by Jacob Rolle, Ashley Polkinghorn, Zachary Veen, Caleb Roth, Harrison Hanson, Owen Cary, and Jonathon Erickson. Performances featured solo works, chamber music, brass ensembles, saxophone quartet, low brass ensemble, and electronic media, demonstrating the breadth of creative activity taking place within the NDSU composition studio.

Among the featured works were Zachary Veen's Landscapes Suite for brass quintet, selections from Caleb Roth's A New Adventure for saxophone quartet, Harrison Hanson's Scopaesthesia for euphonium and tuba ensemble, Owen Cary's Step Right Up! for saxophone quartet, and Jonathon Erickson's Caught Silver-Handed, a multimedia work combining chiptune sound and video.

The annual Student Composition Recital serves as a culminating opportunity for student composers to hear their music performed by live musicians and to share newly created works with audiences. The event also provides performers with opportunities to collaborate directly with living composers, a central component of contemporary musical practice.

The NDSU composition program emphasizes the creation and performance of new music through individual instruction, chamber collaborations, entrepreneurial projects, and interdisciplinary creative work. Student composers regularly write for fellow performers across the Challey School of Music, gaining practical experience working with musicians in rehearsal and performance settings.

The annual recital continues a growing tradition of student-led creative activity at NDSU, providing audiences with an opportunity to experience original music written and performed by members of the university community.

For more information about composition studies at North Dakota State University, visit ndsucomposition.com.