Guest Conductor Dr. Scott Watson

Dr. Watson will be conducting his own piece Gift of Hope as part of our 125th anniversary concert.

Hope helps each of us face life’s challenges with courage and optimism. This work captures both of these aspects of hope. Opening dramatically, the piece soon settles into an upbeat, joyful main theme. Slower contrasting material follows, building from a tender opening to a climax full of resolve. The optimistic opening theme returns, leading to a dramatic, heroic conclusion.

Gift of Hope was commissioned by the Bernards High School (NJ) Symphonic Band and is dedicated to the selfless work of hope done on behalf of critically ill children by Give Kids the World Village.

Dr. Scott Watson is Associate Professor of Music at Cairn University (Langhorne, PA). For 35 years prior he was an instrumental and elective music teacher in the Parkland School District (Allentown, PA), first as high school Director of Bands, then as coordinator of the elementary band/strings program across the district. He is a frequently commissioned composer with more than 130 published pieces for band and strings at all levels that have been performed around the world at venues including the Academy of Music (Philadelphia), the Midwest Clinic (Chicago) and the White House (Washington, D.C.). He is an exclusive composer/clinician for Alfred Publications and a contributor for their Sound Innovations band series.  Watson has presented numerous workshops/clinics for music educators and frequently serves as guest conductor/clinician for honor/festival bands. Dr. Watson was a clinician at the Villanova Summer Graduate Program for Music Educators where he met and worked with George Pinchock. To learn more, visit www.scottwatsonmusic.com.