CRESTVIEW — When Crestview High School band trumpeter Josh Williams attends the Jan. 15 all-state band competition in Tampa, he’ll attend the premiere of a new piano composition.
His own “Ode to a Dream” won the Florida Bandmasters Association Henry Fillmore Composition Contest.
According to the association’s website, the competition is organized to “encourage students’ efforts in original composition and to give recognition for outstanding achievement.”
Josh’s piece was entered in solo and ensemble, one of three competition categories. Students are judged for quality and originality, according the FBA competition guidelines.
Josh said “Ode to a Dream” is his third entry in the competition.
“It started out as something bigger, but I condensed it down to work in the ideas I had for it,” Josh said. “Eventually I want to add to it and expand it again. It’s kind of a work in progress.”
‘JUST GIFTED’
While Josh could win between $100 and possibly as much as $500 for his composition, the prestige of being one of no more than three band students throughout the state to win the recognition is even more exciting, he said.
His trumpet teacher, Jeremy Cadle, said Josh constantly impresses him with his abilities.
“He’s very, very talented,” Cadle said. “I mean, just gifted. Some of the stuff that he writes just blows me away.”
Josh has been composing music for about four years. His ideas can come at any time, he said.
“It’s a random thing,” Josh said. “I’ll be doing something completely normal like driving to school and I’ll hum a tune and have to stop and write it down.”
Band director Jody Dunn said Josh’s talent is a rare one among band students.
“There certainly aren’t a lot of young people writing their own music and submitting it for competitions,” he said.
CLASSICAL INSPIRATION
Josh said his favorite composers include classical figures such as Mozart and Beethoven.
“Probably my favorite composer of all time is Rimsky-Korsakov,” he said. “I love film music, too. It’s something I’d like to get into, hopefully.”
Another career option he is considering is becoming a band director “like Mr. Dunn.”
But first comes the reward of hearing his “Ode to a Dream” performed by pianist Michelle Tredway next month before an audience of music performers, specialists, educators and theorists.
“I wanted a professional to play it, to pull from the music more than I can do,” Josh said.
Email News Bulletin Arts Editor Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Ode to Josh: CHS band student wins statewide contest