In 2020, Disney made a documentary series called Into the Unknown about the making of Frozen 2 and near the end of one of the early episodes, the directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck go into the orchestral recording sessions for documentary’s namesake. If I remember correctly, the process was really chugging at that point and there were many questions and problems stacking up and … Continue reading Arcadia
I’m currently away in Saskatoon conducting the 2024 Saskatchewan Senior Honour Band, but I wanted to reflect on a commission that premiered ten years ago today; one that is, quite probably, my wildest commission to date. It was on a warm summer day in 2013 that I was asked to come to meet up with a lady named Janice Arnason, who was had been my … Continue reading Morgun – Ten Years Later
I’m writing this while waiting for the flight at Dallas Fort Worth airport and reflecting back on this weekend at the International Trombone Festival. I heard some incredible music, had some great laughs with new colleagues, some deep talks with Nora Wilson (who absolutely crushed the performance of Arcadia Trombonica, more on that later), and if we’re being honest, ate some incredible barbecue. Let’s start … Continue reading ITF 2024 Reflection
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
Today is December 31st, 2023 – my 40th birthday. As I wrote at the end of my previous post, I have big dreams for this decade. At Christmas, my father-in-law told me that your forties were when you really bite down on your goals, you get aggressive with taking what you’re doing to the next steps and that’s very much how I feel. I’m ready … Continue reading Four Zero (Looking Ahead)
It’s December 30th, 2023. It’s the day before my 40th birthday. I reflect on things quite a lot – sometimes for good, sometimes to my own detriment – and I find myself thinking back about my last decade, particularly the creative aspects of it. The teaching part was generally really great, but I’m not going to focus on that here. Let’s dig into the decade … Continue reading Four Zero (Looking Back)
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!]
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!
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
Back in Summer of 2015, I was asked by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra if I could do an arrangement of a pop song for a divisional choir and the orchestra. Every other year, the River East Transcona School Division hires out the orchestra to play with their choir. This was an enormous opportunity, so of course I said yes, then got it done on time … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – The Quest for Beer at the Orchestra
