Music Ed Monday – Contributing
I feel like I’m seeing a lot about “journeys” lately—weight-loss journeys, wellness journeys, etc. I’ve been reflecting on the burnout that I felt through most of the last few years and I’ve been reframing it as a “burnout journey,” which feels right to me. For most of 2022 and 2023, I had no vitality, and I use that word really specifically. I think of vitality … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – Contributing
Prairie Sunset and Icelandic Folk Song Suite No. 2 [IN PRINT!]
Hey everyone, I hope your fall has been cruising along swimmingly. My two WASBE competition winners, “Prairie Sunset” (Level 2) and “Icelandic Folk Song Suite No. 2” (Level 4) are out in print this weekend! You can pick them up here: Prairie Sunset: https://www.wasbe.online/product/prairie-sunset-by-keneley-kristofferson-canada Icelandic Folk Song Suite No. 2: https://www.wasbe.online/product/icelandic-folk-song-suite-no-2-by-keneley-kristofferson-canada Continue reading Prairie Sunset and Icelandic Folk Song Suite No. 2 [IN PRINT!]
Shop Update!
Hey everyone, Just two quick updates! The first is that the online store is FINALLY up-and-running! All of the gremlins are out of the back end and everything works. Delivery is in PDFs and currency is in CAD so, for my US friends, this is one heck of a deal on band music. The second is that some of the pieces are in competition until … Continue reading Shop Update!
Reflection: “Icelandic Folk Song Suite” live 8 years later.
I just had awesome night. Like, positively spell-binding. The University of Manitoba Concert Band just performed ALL FOUR movements of Icelandic Folk Song Suite at their concert on March 31st, 2023 at Centre-Culturel Franco Manitobain (or CCFM, for short), conducted by Dr. Jacquie Dawson. So, Dr. Dawson conducted the premiere of this piece eight years ago in my hometown of Gimli, MB; but even better, … Continue reading Reflection: “Icelandic Folk Song Suite” live 8 years later.
Equinox at the MCO
I love the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra. The Toronto Star has described them as “Canada’s tiny, perfect chamber orchestra” and I agree. While I’ve only done arranging work for them, I’ve done it three separate times and two of those were with the brilliant folk singer (and dynamite human being) Raine Hamilton. The ensemble is so strong musically and so thoughtful with their programming that I’m … Continue reading Equinox at the MCO
“The Stars of November” at ITG2023!
We never know where a piece is going to go when we begin its journey – and it’s always we. Sure, the composer writes it, but the commissioning path includes organizations, performers, venues, sometimes festivals or events; and yes, the composer too. Kayla Solomon and Danielle Guina, the performers of “The Stars of November” have been an inseparable part of the process. The piece was … Continue reading “The Stars of November” at ITG2023!
New Music for the 2022/23 Year
Hey team, I don’t want to bite into our summer too much, but if you’re thinking about some new rep for the 2022/23 year, I just wanted to share what’s coming around the bend. Concert Band My three-movement work, Transcendent Light, was published this past June by Eighth Note Publications in Canada and distributed by Alfred in the US. I’m really, really proud of this … Continue reading New Music for the 2022/23 Year
Taking Up Space
I’ve been thinking about writing for a while now, both music and a text update here, and I’m finally here at the keyboard (again, both music and text). It took a while, it seems. This last school year has been less hard than others, but still came with significant challenges. The first half of the year had us still rehearsing our band in the autobody … Continue reading Taking Up Space
“Nothing Gold Can Stay” (NEW WORK!)
Hey everyone, I have a new work in print! I know, even in this crazy year of remote rehearsals and streaming concerts, composers are still writing and publishers are still printing new music. I am so grateful for that. This new piece is an SATB setting of Robert Frost’s “Nothing Gold Can Stay” and I’m so incredibly proud of it. It was commissioned by Dr. … Continue reading “Nothing Gold Can Stay” (NEW WORK!)
Band Room Podcast!
Hey everyone, Well, I just wrote a really long and intense post about my 2020 experience, so here’s something a little shorter and brighter! Dylan Maddix and Cait Nishimura had me as a guest on their Band Room Podcast and it felt really amazing to talk shop with them. We talk composing, teaching, balance, video game music, and a whole bunch of other stuff. It’s … Continue reading Band Room Podcast!