USA East Music NYSB BULLETIN - SUMMER 2019 | Page 9

NYSB Composers Contest
For the 2019 NYSB Composers Contest we
were privileged to receive nearly twenty
new Christmas pieces. The variety in the
music and variety in the demographics of the
composers was wonderful to see. In the end
we ended up with three pieces in the finals
that represented the variety of the overall
entries. We are pleased that Joel Collier’s new
piece “Personent Hodie” has been selected as
the winner and will be slated for publication
in the American Band Journal in the near
future. This will be a great addition to the
journal and a great addition to the library
of any brass band. In addition, the New York
Staff Band will record this new piece on a
new Christmas album to be released in the
fall of 2020. Congrats to the finalists for a job
well done!
— Derek Lance,
Territorial Music Secretary
and NYSB Bandmaster
NYSB Composer Contest 2019 Results:
1st place:
“Personent Hodie” by Dr. Joel Collier 
2nd place:
“Yuletide Treasure” by Marcus Venables
required, but is worth the practice/effort to
make this succeed.
Yuletide Treasure
An exciting beginning starts off this work,
with a tune included based on ‘Deck the
Halls’. A different treatment of the tune in ¾
time makes the music interesting. Persistent
driving music in the background with the
constant same rhythm is well-written. 
This item is not long in length (just over 2
minutes), and this would make it a good
concert opener. There is good scoring with
effective rhythmic and harmonic treatments
used throughout.
Swing! Song! Merrily on High
This item is very playable as written as
a “swing” type of selection. There are
good rhythms and harmonies displayed
throughout the arrangement. This is not a
typical Sunday morning type of selection,
but a good item for variety’s sake to include
in a Christmas music festival.  There are good
solo opportunities included for the principal
trombonist and principal cornetist.  The piece
ends on the slow side, in contrast to the more
lively music presented throughout most of
the piece.
3rd place:
“Swing Song Merrily on High” by Yves Ramel Comments from Dorothy Gates, Senior Music
Producer:
Congratulations to Joel on winning first
place! Thank you to all of the composers for
your willingness to write for The Salvation
Army and the New York Staff Band. Personent Hodie
This piece has everything for me, a good
sense of form with an excellent journey;
a great sense of harmony and harmonic
progression with a purpose.  It is all packaged
together with beautiful scoring and lovely
textures.
Comments from Tom Scheibner, Assistant
Territorial Music Secretary:
Personent Hodie
This piece is written by a composer/arranger
that is very familiar with brass band scoring. 
There are excellent harmonies, rhythms
and effects included throughout the work.
An ‘eerily’ effective start leads into lively,
captivating music with an ‘Irish’ type of lilt. 
This music is somewhat deceptively difficult
because of the tempo and technique
T H E S A LVAT I O N A R M Y U S A E A S T
Yuletide Treasure
This is indeed a musical treasure! Striking
textures create interest right away. The form
is well rounded and satisfying and the writer
has a good sense of harmony and harmonic
progressions.
Swing Song Merrily on High
There is some nice writing in this piece.  A
good sense of harmony, and nice textures in
the scoring. This writer has a good concept of
writing for ABJ.
Dr. Joel Collier – Biography
Dr. Joel Collier has been making music
his entire life. Growing up in a musical
family, music has been one of the main
focuses in his life. Receiving recognition
as a performer, composer, and teacher of
music, Joel has enjoyed sharing his gifts
with audiences and students in the United
States, Peru, England, Austria, and Germany.
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Music
Industry from Drexel University, Joel moved
to Harrisonburg, Virginia to pursue a master’s
degree in Euphonium Performance. Joel has
continued his studies, and in 2016 completed
his doctorate in Euphonium Performance,
Pedagogy, and Literature. His teachers
have included Aaron VanderWeele, Barry
McCommon, Bob Gale, and Kevin Stees.
Dr. Collier has won numerous awards as a
soloist, including first place at the 2012 North
American Brass Band Championship and
second place in 2016 at the same contest.
He has been featured as a soloist with the
Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, the Drexel
University Concert Band, the JMU Brass Band,
the JMU Wind Symphony, National Capital
Band, Massanutten Youth Brass Band, Pendel
Brass, the New York Staff Band, and many other
ensembles. Joel currently performs with River
Brass, the Brass Band of Louisville, and The
Salvation Army Southern Territorial Band.
Dr. Collier’s doctoral research focused
on the origins and development of the
brass band euphonium concerto, and his
document discusses the compositional
background and evolutionary development
of the Horovitz euphonium concerto, both
Golland euphonium concerti, the Ellerby
concerto, and the Wilby concerto.
Dr. Collier is also a composer and arranger,
with several titles for brass band and choir
already published. His compositions can be
heard on numerous recordings, including
his own solo CD, the New York Staff Band
recording – Endless Power, and the National
Capital Band release – A Musical Offering. He
has been the primary arranger for the JMU
Tuba-Euphonium ensemble, and several of
SUMMER 2019   NYSB BULLETIN   ‡   9