Featured Composer and Conductor: Brian T. Harris

We are excited to feature Brian T. Harris as a conductor and composer on our upcoming Spring Concert: Celebrate! on Sunday, April 26th! He will be leading the band in the world premiere of his own original composition, ANXIETY FOR BAND.

When asked about the work, Brian shared: "I wrote this piece over the course of about 10 years. It actually began as a brass ensemble piece, but, at the urging of my wife, Melanie, I rearranged and added to it to create the wind ensemble work we have today. The piece takes the listener through Anxiety; the panic, the eventual calmness that still bears undertones of fear, and back to the panic bringing the listener to a rousing close."

Brian T. Harris is currently a trombonist in the West Hills Symphonic Band and is serving as the Director of Bands at Robert Morris University. At Robert Morris, Mr. Harris conducts the Marching Show Band, Basketball and Hockey Pep Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Fife and Drum Corps, Commencement Band, Trombone Choir, and oversees student leadership and the Nu Gamma Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. Mr. Harris lives in Aliquippa, PA with his wife, Melanie.

Help us Celebrate the Legacy of Clem Rolin

The West Hills Symphonic Band welcomes you to celebrate the legacy and retirement of past Music Director and Principal Conductor Clem Rolin! We have commissioned western PA native Paul Murtha to write an arrangement of “Too Little Time” by Henry Mancini (love theme from the 1954 film “The Glenn Miller Story”), specifically for the band in tribute to Clem. The piece will be premiered at our Spring Pops Concert at Montour High School on Sunday, April 26, 2026. Following the concert, we will host a reception celebration for Clem and all of his friends, family, and fans.

A versatile composer/arranger, Paul Murtha is in constant demand in both professional and educational circles. From 1990 to 1996, Paul served as the Chief Arranger at the United States Military Academy Band at West Point, NY. He served on the arranging staff of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own”, in Washington, D.C. from 1996 to 2001 and then served as the band’s Chief Arranger from 2001 to 2016. Paul is published exclusively by the Hal Leonard Corporation, where he contributes to many areas of the instrumental catalogue.

We are humbly asking for donations to cover the $5,000 cost of the arrangement fees, as well as refreshments for the post-concert retirement celebration. Every contribution, big or small, makes a real impact. If you can’t donate right now, sharing this fundraiser is also incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity!

Donate Now via GoFundMe!

YouTube: "Too Little Time" by Henry Mancini – featuiring Bill Watrous on trombone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjNMeR9T7UU

Guest Composer & Conductor: Dr. Todd Goodman

We are excited to welcome guest composer and conductor Dr. Todd Goodman on our upcoming Holiday Concert. Chief Academic Officer at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center. Dr. Goodman will lead the band in his electrifying work LET’S CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS, which intertwines original fanfares with familiar seasonal tunes in a vibrant, high-energy musical showcase.

When asked to share some background of the piece, Dr. Goodman said:

This piece is a fun celebration of the Christmas holiday! I wrote a short fanfare a few years ago for the 50th anniversary of the Beaver County Symphonic Wind Ensemble called Fanfare for Friends. When I showed the piece to River City Brass's James Gourlay, he said that he thought it would be a great base for a Christmas opener. So, that's what I did.

TODD GOODMAN is a prominent figure in the contemporary classical music scene, pushing the boundaries of the genre with his unique style and vision. His music is performed and recorded around the globe by musicians of all levels—including, world-renowned soloists, top-tier professional ensembles, academic ensembles, and learners of all ages. Goodman has been the recipient of numerous awards, grants, commissions, and honors from organizations such as the American Prize, the British Trombone Society, the International Tuba Euphonium Association, the National Endowment for the Arts, New Music America, and many others. As an advocate for arts education, Goodman has served for over two decades in various compositional and educational residencies with orchestras, opera companies, performing arts centers, and academic institutions around the United States, and was a nominee for the very first Educator of the Year Grammy™ Award.

Recordings of Goodman’s music can be found on Wrong Note Media, Potenza, Hello Stage, Arts Laureate, Duquesne University Press, Bridge, Records DK, and Push Records. Goodman holds degrees from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Duquesne University, and Kent State University, and has studied at l’École Normale de Musique in Paris, France, and the Aspen Music Festival in Aspen, Colorado. He currently resides outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

More information about Todd Goodman can be found at www.WrongNoteMedia.com and www.ToddGoodmanComposer.com