LSU Composition Students Soar on the Local and National Stage

It has been a remarkable stretch for students in the LSU School of Music's composition program. In the span of just one week, composition students claimed the stage and the spotlight at two high-profile events, earning standing ovations, enthusiastic audiences, and the kind of real-world experience that no classroom can fully replicate.

Student Composers Debut Works on National Stage at the NASA Conference

First came the national stage. LSU composition students Andrew Bass and Cameron Johnson each had new works premiered by the LSU Saxophone Octet at the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Biennial Conference. The pieces were commissioned by LSU graduate student Joseph Wolf and faculty member Dr. Kendra Wheeler—a meaningful act of investment in student creativity that speaks to the collaborative spirit at the heart of the School of Music's composition program. For Bass and Johnson, hearing their music performed on a national stage, before an audience of some of the country's leading saxophone artists and educators, was exactly the kind of opportunity that defines an LSU composition education.

The performance was met with warmth and enthusiasm, a testament not only to the quality of the music itself, but to the generous support of the LSU faculty who believe in putting student work in front of national audiences.

The NASA Biennial Conference, held March 12–15, 2026 at The Ohio State University in Columbus, is one of the most prestigious gatherings in the saxophone world, bringing together performers, scholars, and educators from across the continent—a fitting backdrop for the debut of two new works born out of LSU's own spirit of collaboration and mentorship.

Six Students Present World Premieres with Local Orchestra

Just days later, the momentum continued closer to home. The Civic Orchestra of Baton Rouge (COBR) presented an evening of entirely new music, featuring seven world premieres—six of them composed by LSU students. The concert took place at the Baton Rouge Library before a standing-room-only crowd, and the energy in the room was electric. The LSU student composers featured on the program were Ethan Strunc, Joshua Davis, Andrew Bass, Eli Boudreaux, Cameron Johnson, and Austin Harris.

The partnership between the LSU composition area and COBR is the product of a relationship built over years and a collaboration that is a natural fit for both programs. It has now grown into an annual tradition that gives LSU composers the rare opportunity to hear their music brought to life by professional musicians performing for a live community audience.

During that evening's performance each composer had the chance to take the stage before their piece to offer a brief introduction, even utilizing some well-timed humor. Afterward, the audience that included community members, family, and supporters—sought out the composers to share their reactions. As LSU faculty member and composition area head Dr. Mara Gibson told her students that evening: "You will never have a receiving line like this."

Opportunities like this one are invaluable for developing composers. Hearing your music performed by professionals, in front of a live audience, teaches students how their work actually sounds, not just how it looks on the page. It builds communication skills, expands professional networks, and provides something no classroom assignment can: a credited world premiere, a meaningful milestone on any composer's résumé. For many of these students, the COBR concert was their first time hearing a professional ensemble bring their music to life before a paying audience. LSU faculty and professionals are sure that it will not be their last.

A Future Full of Promise

The momentum doesn't stop at the stage door. What these two events make clear is that the LSU composition program is not quietly doing good work — it is doing great work, and doing it in front of audiences who notice. From national conferences to packed community concert halls, LSU composers are consistently finding stages worthy of their talent, and that is a direct reflection of a program that has become one of the defining strengths of the LSU School of Music.

For student composers, it can be easy to feel discouraged by the challenge of getting new music heard. The road from score to performance is rarely a straight line. But two national-caliber events in a single week—an audience that stayed to say thank you, faculty who commission and champion student work—serve as a powerful reminder of what is possible when talent meets opportunity. The LSU School of Music's composition program is producing composers who are ready for the world. And the world, it seems, is ready for them.

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About the LSU School of Music

The LSU School of Music offers one of the nation's most comprehensive music programs and serves as a cultural arts center for Louisiana. The school boasts an acclaimed faculty, along with a world-renowned network of visiting artists who are innovators in their fields. For more information, visit lsu.edu/cmda/music.

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