Middle school orchestra plays piece with Masters Music Publications Composer

Hathaway Brown Middle School orchestra students experienced a special opportunity this week when they played a piece composed expressly for them, with the composer himself.  Masters Music Publications Composer  Clarence Barber wrote a piece called Season of Wonder for the Middle School Orchestra, who received the composition in March and has been practicing it ever since to prepare for their May 29th concert.  Mr. Barber visited the school over two days to work with the 7th and 8th grade students one day and the 5th and 6th graders the next.

It is an honor for these students to be able to play a piece composed by Mr. Barber, who has composed for many top-ranked musicians, including members of the Cleveland Orchestra and the United States Air Force and United States Army Bands.  Mr. Barber studied composition with Walter Watson and Ralph Turek and percussion with Larry Snider, Michael Rosen, and James Adkins. Currently the managing editor of Ludwig Masters Publications, he also serves on the adjunct faculty at the Baldwin-Wallace University Conservatory of Music. He has performed with the Akron and Canton Symphony Orchestras, the Blossom Festival Band, Blossom Festival Orchestra, the Virginia Grand Military Band, and jazz artist Jamey Aebersold.