Douglas Hill and John Stevens, professors at the School of Music, have no lack of responsibilities to keep them busy.
Hill teaches the school’s French horn majors, Stevens covers tuba and euphonium and both are members of the Wisconsin Brass Quintet, one of the school’s three resident ensembles.
But both men are composers, as well, writing for a variety of ensembles and integrating their creative and pedagogical activities for the benefit of students, colleagues and classical music audiences.
- Professor John Stevens. Photo by Katrin Talbot.
On a March 6, 2010 program for the Faculty Concert Series, theWisconsin Brass Quintet performed the premiere of "Recollections Revisited" for double brass quintet by Hill, utilizing the talents of the Mad City Brass Quintet, an ensemble of some of the school’s most advanced brass students.
The same program featured "Triangles" for low brass trio by Stevens, a work from 1978, and another Hill premiere for brass quintet, "Civil War Relics."
And on the Nelson Institute's "Ecotones" concert on April 20 at theOverture Center for the Arts Promenade Hall, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, both Hill and Stevens were represented again, this time with Hill's "Horizons" for tenor and chamber ensemble, performed by School of Music faculty; Stevens's "Seasons," performed by the WBQ; and Hill's "Marshland," given a rousing rendition by School of Music students under the direction of the composer.