Check back often for the latest news!

Recent Publications! Sun, Jul. 20 2008 C. Alan Music Publishers has released the following works for purchase: "American Visions" for concert band. An MP3 of the piece has been posted in the downloads section of www.jknitsch.net "Dance of Fire" for concert band. "September Sketches" for Trombone and Piano. "Liuyang River" for Marimba and Flute. "Casual Discussions" for Bb Clarinet, Marimba and Piano. Additionally, "The Curse of El Rojo Grande" for concert band has been accepted for publication and should be ready next year.

Recent Performances! Sun, Jul. 20 2008 The spring of 2008 saw several premieres of new works for band: "Santorini: Dance of the Gods" was premiered by the Klein Collins High School Symphonic Band in Spring, TX. "An Improbable Journey" was premiered by the Mariner Middle School Band in Florida. "The Cycle of Opposites" was premiered by the Seven Lakes High School Band in Katy, TX.

Pre-TMEA Update! Tue, Feb. 12 2008 As all of the music edcuators in Texas prepare to descend on San Antonio for our annual convention, there are many exciting things on! The University of Missouri at Rolla featured two works on their band concert on February 8. "The Curse of El Rojo Grande" and "Catching a Summer Breeze" were both selected for the program and mp3 files wil be uploaded shortly! Santorini - Dance of the Gods was performed by the Symphonic Band at Klein Collins High School in Houston and a very ringy mp3 of that performance has already been posted. Work has been completed on "An Improbable Journey" for the Mariner Middle School Band (Florida), and "The Cycle of Opposites" for the Seven Lakes High School Band (Katy, TX). Information about those premieres will be forthcoming! Work has begun on an original hymn for band that has been commissioned by the Cinco Ranch Junior High School Band in Katy. TX. More information to follow! See you on the River!

Ferris Wheel at UNT! Sat, Nov. 3 2007 The University of North Texas Symphonic Band, conducted by Dennis Fisher, will present "Ferris Wheel" in concert on Thursday, November 8th at 7:30 PM. Additional information regarding the concert can be found at www.music.unt.edu. All Nitsch fans in the north Texas area should clear their schedules to attend!

August Update Sat, Aug. 11 2007 New Job Beginning in the next few weeks I will have a new school e-mail address. You can e-mail me at jnitsch1@kleinisd.net. Messages can be sent now, but I won't be able to read them until a few weeks from now. Continue to use composer@jknitsch.net at will. Most of you know that I have accepted a new position as the Associate Director of Bands at Klein Collins High School. I look forward to the new challenges that this move will bring and I'm excited to be moving back into the community where I grew up! Tim Reynish Article I was recently forwarded a link to an article by prolific conductor, and champion of new band music, Tim Reynish. The article concerns many of the new premieres of wind music during the last year and I was humbled to have received a few lines of mention. Reynish writes: "Working at High School level in Texas is another former WASBE member, Jason Nitsch, now teaching in Houston, who has written several works for school band which I think are effective. A school band director looking for traditional band music which occassionally says something different might find it worth going to his website, www.jknitsch.net and exploring his very generous library of downloads with full performances. I found On the Banks of the River Shannon quite charming, a flowing melody giving way to an Irish dance." He also lists "Elegy for a Ghost Town" in this section of his review. To read his entire article (40+ pages and worth reading every one) go to www.basbwe.org/articles/2007%20Conference%20Reviews.pdf Upcoming A full recording of "American Visions" should be up soon on the C. Alan website. I'm told the page is there, but the link has not been working. Work continues on "Stretches in Time," I am in need of a somewhat hearty band to tackle this rhythmical monster. E-mail me if you are brave! Work also continues on "The Massive Sideburns Suite," Several movements (including "Jailhouse Rondo" and "My Blue Suede Fugues") are almost complete. Groups looking for a challenging change of pace piece for a spring 2008 concert should contact me. Damon Archer and teh Seven Lakes High School Band in Katy, Texas has commissioned "Title TBD" for a Spring 2008 premiere and work is underway! Thanks to everyone for all of your support! I couldn't do what I do without all of you!

Spring Update Sat, May. 12 2007 Deer Park Junior High will premiere "The Curse of El Rojo Grande" on Monday, May 14. The group has been working on the piece for a little more than a month now and they have had several sessions with the composer.

Exciting new works ready for premiere! Wed, Oct. 4 2006 Several new commissions have recently been completed and several groups around the country will begin preparations for their performance very soon! Elegy for a Ghost Town, commissioned by Dr. Calvin Hofer and the Mesa State College Wind Symphony, is set to receive its premiere on December 2, 2006 at the "Best of the West Select Band Concert" in Grand Junction, Colorado. Dance of the Gods, commissioned by Clifford Spires and the Venus High School Band, is scheduled for premiere sometime in the spring of 2008. Legecy for concert band has recently been completed and the composer is actively seeking a group to premiere the piece. Anyone interested should contact the composer at composer@jknitsch.net

Another Trip to Chicago Tue, May. 16 2006 Composer Jason K. Nitsch has recently learned that his new composition "Dynasty" will be performed at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Convention in Chicago, Illiniois this December. This represents the fourth occassion in the past five years that his music will be featured in concert at this prestigious conference. The Doerre Intermediate Band from Klein, Texas has selected the piece for their concert. Interestingly, the composer himself attended Doerre and began his musical studies there! Join us at Midwest for "Dynasty!"

New Commissions in the works! Tue, Apr. 18 2006 Dr. Charles Hofer, Director of Bands at Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colorado has commissioned a new work for band to be premiered in December 2006. Damon Archer, Director of Bands at Seven Falls High School in Katy, Texas has commissioned a new band piece to commemorate his first graduating class at SFHS! The premiere will take place in the spring of 2008. Brenton Dunnington has commissioned a short chamber piece for Flute and Marimba based on the Chinese Folk Song Luiyang River. It is set to be completed this summer and premeired in fall 2006.

New works in the works! Thu, Feb. 23 2006 Jason Nitsch has recently received two commissions for new band compositions! Dr. Calvin Hofer at Grand Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colorado has commissioned a new piece for wind emsemble to be premiered the weekend of December 1-2, 2006. Work on the piece will begin immediately and should be completed by early fall. Damon Archer, director of bands at Seven Falls High School in Katy, Texas, has also commissioned a new work. It will celebrate the first graduating band class from Seven Falls High School, which opened this year under Mr. Archer's direction. The premiere is tentatively scheduled for spring 2008.

Ferris Wheel to receive TMEA performance! Tue, Jan. 17 2006 The Association of Texas Small School Bands (ATSSB) All State band conducted by Paula Crider will perform Ferris Wheel as part of there concert program at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention in San Antonio, Texas this February! Concert details can be found at www.tmea.org, or www.atssb.org

Virginia Music Educators Association Approves New Piece Tue, Dec. 6 2005 "An American Hymn" has been recently approved buy the VMEA for festival performance in 2006. Previously approved compositions include 'Ferris Wheel" and "In the Bleak Midwinter."

Heading Back to the Windy City Sun, Nov. 6 2005 The Beumont Middle School Band from Kentucky is scheduled to open their 2005 MidWest Concert with "An American Hymn." This will be Nitsch's third MidWest performance in four years!

Around the Country Sat, Nov. 5 2005 Recently a number of works have been fetured in concert around the country. "In the Bleak MidWinter" and "An American Hymn" are to be featured in concert this fall by the wind ensemble at The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith; Charles Booker, conductor. Closer to home, The Texas Lutheran University combined brass sections; Dr. Robert Cesario, conductor, performed "Fanfare" at the opening of their October Concert in Seguin, Texas. Just a few weeks ago the University of Northern Colorado; Dr. Kenneth Singleton, conductor, recorded "Dynasty" for the new Grand Mesa Music Demo CD due out later this year.

Work from the past returns! Sat, Aug. 20 2005 The composers musical vision "The Haunted Palace," based on the poem by Edgar Allen Poe, is set to receive it's first performance in almost 5 years! The piece will be performed at a Halloween concert in Provo, Utah based around the themes of Poe and pieces which were inspired by his words. Concert information to follow soon!

Stay up late with "Insomniac" Tue, May. 24 2005 "Insomniac" for solo marimba and percussion is finally finished! Soloist, and long time friend of the composer, Brian Zator will begin working on the piece this summer for an early fall premier. The piece is based around a long sleepless night and all of the mental trauma that goes with it. Some of the more recognizable features include a lullaby spoof, ticking clocks, a bad song on the radio, and much tossing and turning! Check back for performance information!

Ferris Wheel lands on another state list! Mon, May. 9 2005 Ferris Wheel, published by Grand Mesa Music, is continuing it's tour of the nation's festival concert band lists. It was recently included in the latest list of approved pieces for the state of Nebraska. Visit www.nsbma.org for more information!

Percussion Concerto to receive long awaited premier! Sun, Apr. 3 2005 The Concerto for Marimba and Wind Ensemble was written several years ago and it's creation and performance were to be a tribute to my former teacher, Dr. Larry Vanlandingham of Baylor University. Circumstances did not allow for it's preperation and performance at the time, and the project was never really completed. Dr. Vanlandingham passed away last year and I feared that the piece would be forever incomplete. However, Brian Zator; the professor of percussion at Texas A&M - Commerce, has agreed to perform the work as part of his 2nd DMA recital. Zator is a former student of Dr. V and he and I spent several years attending Baylor together. The concerto, originally three movements, will be re-worked for solo marimba and percussion ensemble and will be one continuous movement. The project is expected to be completed this summer and the premier early this fall at TAMU-C.  Brian Zator is currently in his fourth year at Texas A&M University-Commerce serving as the Director of Percussion Studies. His responsibilities include teaching the classical and marching percussion ensembles, the "Panimation" steel drum band, undergraduate and graduate applied lessons, and the percussion methods course. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Baylor University, a Master of Music Degree from the University of Michigan and is currently pursuing his Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas. He is also a student of world-renowned marimba artist, Keiko Abe, having performed and studied with her in Japan. As a soloist, he has performed with the Conroe and The Woodlands Symphonies, with the Texas A&M-Commerce Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, and at several Texas Day of Percussion events. He was also the guest soloist for the Texas A&M-Commerce Wind Ensemble performance at the 2005 CBDNA conference being held in New York City. In 2000, he won the Instrumental Division of the Young Texas Artists competition held in Conroe, TX. In addition to giving clinics and concerts at various colleges, high schools and state festivals, he presented a marimba clinic at the Texas Music Educator's Association annual convention in February 2005. He has performed with an assortment of percussion ensembles including several tours with Keiko Abe and "Ensemble Clair" in Japan, "Primary Colors" in Okayama, Japan, the Bain Percussion Group at the 2003 Percussive Arts Society International Convention, and has recorded with the Michigan Chamber Players. Additionally, he is the principal timpanist and percussionist with the Northeast Texas Symphony and served as the principal percussionist with the Waco Symphony for two years. He was a member of the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps and taught the University of Michigan drumline. Active within the Percussive Arts Society, he is secretary for the Texas chapter and serves on the international Keyboard Committee. He is proud to be a Yamaha Performing Artist and artist/clinician for Innovative Percussion and currently resides in Greenville with his wife, Trina, and son, Dylan.

"Ferris Wheel" named to top 100! Sun, Mar. 13 2005 ABC/ Bandworld Magazine/ WIBC recently published their list of the top 100 new works for band in 2004 - 2005. "Ferris Wheel" was selected for the list, marking the first time that one of Mr. Nitsch's works has been selected.

Mexico City Quartet to perform work in concert Mon, Feb. 14 2005 More information is on the way!

Fresh from Mid-West premier, new work receives recording... Thu, Jan. 27 2005 "On the Banks of the River Shannon" was immediately scooped up by publisher TRN Music after it's premier at Mid-West in December 2004. Now it's receiving a first class recording session with Barry Kraus and the Baylor University Symphonic Band. Dr. Kraus will record the piece with the group sometime this spring and it should be on shelves and availible for purchase by the summer. "River Shannon' has all the trademarks of a Nitsch piece: modern harmony, extensive technical passages, soaring melodies, and elaborate percussion writing. Set in two halves, the opening is a musical depiction of an old Irish Castle on the river. A beautiful oboe solo and a subtle trace of Walton's influence highlight the castle section. As it continues it quickly gives way to a furious jig to celebrate the annual band festivals that have been held in Limmerick for years. The festival attracts musical groups from all over the world once a year to fill the streets and concert hall with music. The piece was commissioned, premiered, and dedicated to the Cinco Ranch Jr. High Honor Band from Katy, Texas and their directors Rory Davis and Chris Anderson.

Work on Orchestral Commission Continues... Wed, Jan. 26 2005 Work on the new orchestral commission is continuing as the calendar moves into Spring. Most of the material has been sketched and is now being woven together. Everyone involved is hopeful that it will be completed in time for a late spring read through. The piece was commissioned by the Turner Family and will be premiered this fall by the Ithaca Symphony Orchestra in New York. The work is titled "What is, and what should be" and is a tribute to the life and work of elementary school teacher Darrell Turner who is a great music enthusiast and is suffering from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). A portion of all proceeds earned from the performance, publication, and sale of the piece will be donated to help fund ALS research.

An Old Favorite is Back Again Wed, Dec. 15 2004 Jason K. Nitsch had no idea what the result would be when he accepted a friends commission in early 2001. Robert Hastings, director of Bands at Klein Oak High School and a great friend, asked for a modern setting of his favorite hymn "In the Bleak Mid-Winter." Naturally, the young composer eagerly agreed and what followed was the creation of one of his favorite musical compositions.  A few years, and several publisher rejections later, Walter Cummings at Grand Mesa Music decided to take a chance on this new arrangement and published the work. Kenneth Singleton, the Director of Bands at the University of Northern Colorado, provided a first rate recording and things were on their way! In a first steps of what I am sure will be a long journey for this piece, it was recently added to the Prescribed Music List in the state of Missisippi. This is the list from which all bands in the state must select their contest literature. Hopefully this recent honor will encourage other music selection boards to consider the work a bit more closely and include it on their own lists. You can listen to a recording of "In the Bleak Mid-Winter" in the downloads section at www.jknitsch.net, or at www.grandmesamusic.com

New works approved for Festival Performance Tue, Mar. 4 2003 Ferris Wheel and In the Bleak Mid-Winter, both published by Grand Mesa Music, have ben approved for festival performance by the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association's Music Selection Committee. This selection will allow bands in the state of Virginia to perform both of these pieces as part of their yearly festival performance. Visit www.vboda.org for more information!