By Bri Spencer / The Jambar
Senior Jacob Potts, music composition major and percussionist, won the third annual Dr. Stephen L. Gage Memorial Composition Contest for his original piece, “Monument.”
For the first time, the competition was open nationwide. To compete, individuals must write a wind band piece, with a length limit of 10 minutes. A panel of judges reviews the pieces and decides who wins.
The winner of the competition gets their piece premiered by the Youngstown State University wind ensemble. Benjamin Hemming, graduate student majoring in conducting, conducted “Monument” in a performance at Stambaugh Auditorium on April 17.
Potts said he was glad for the experience to see his work on stage.
“It was really something having my own work premiered on such a big venue as Stambaugh Auditorium,” Potts said.
Potts also participated in the performance on a percussion part. After the performance, Potts, Hemming and Michael Butler, director of bands and associate professor of music in the Dana School of Music, took a bow on the front of the stage.
Potts said he appreciates the recognition winning the competition gave him. He said he feels more inspired to write music and is ready to make a name for himself.
“It’s inspired me to write a whole bunch of other [pieces]. It’s the first step to getting my name out there,” Potts said.
Potts wrote “Monument” to pay a pseudo tribute to his time at YSU and the wind ensemble. He said he chose to reference various pieces that the ensemble has played over the years.
“I found ways to make these themes and motifs work in my piece. I would use these ideas while also creating some of my own original material. I took a lot of inspiration from other pieces and then I made my own work out of it,” Potts said.
Potts originally started college in a music recording program, but said he chose to switch his major to music composition because he found he could improvise melodies and harmonies when playing various instruments.
“I just naturally found myself making music without really trying to,” Potts said. “I would just walk up to an instrument and start playing something. That was my big inspiration, to write music for other people to hear.”
The memorial composition contest was established by Butler in honor of Stephen Gage, YSU’s director of bands from 1993-2021.
Potts said he feels inspired to start his journey in the composing field.
“It’s inspiring in a way to realize that I might have a shot of this and so now I’m just going to start to keep writing other stuff and just get inspired. The goal now is just to make a name for myself,” Potts said.