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Program Notes
In July of 2025, I visited Shenandoah National Park with a friend who had never seen real mountains before. I was adamant that once they saw them in person, they’d understand my love for the Blue Ridge. They were skeptical, but they had to admit I was right. One cannot just look at mountains. One must behold them.
This brass quintet captures that experience. The reverent quietude we felt as we looked out over vistas of nature’s majesty, the adventure of exploring the trails, and the contentedness of simply existing together so far away from the bustling world—all that poured out as I composed this music. Beholding Mountains is a love letter to the Blue Ridge Mountains and a call to preserve all of our National Parks.