Alex Ehredt

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Originally composed as the dissertation for my doctoral studies, Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble began as a personal reflection on my own musical development. While rooted in my experiences, the piece aims to serve as a homage to the formative journeys undertaken by all musicians as they grow into their artistic identities. The concerto is structured in three connected movements—fast, slow, fast—that are performed without pause. Each movement presents its own distinct character and pacing. Together, they reflect different stages of growth and self-realization. The work reflects on the formative experiences that shape a musician's early career: moments of doubt, resilience, inspiration, and self-discovery. At its core, the concerto explores how we define ourselves through the act of making music and how those definitions evolve through time and with the support of mentors and peers. The three movements are titled “If it is to be,” “it is up to…,” and “me.” This phrase not only anchors the work conceptually but also captures the spirit of personal responsibility and transformation that underlies the musical arc. Each movement introduces its own motivic material, and these motives return throughout the piece in altered forms. As they develop and shift, they create a retrospective through-line that allows the listener to hear how past musical ideas—and by extension, personal experiences—shape who we are in the present. While the concerto includes moments of technical virtuosity, it remains grounded in expressive clarity and accessibility. It invites both performer and listener to consider the broader narrative of artistic growth, encouraging reflection on the challenges and influences that define each of our musical paths. This work was the winner of the Atlantic Coast Conference Band Directors Association James E. Croft Grant for Young and Emerging Wind Band Composers (2022–23) and a finalist in The ASCAP Foundation 2022 Morton Gould Young Composer Awards competition.

Concerto for Alto Saxophone & Wind Ensemble

Concert Band Score & Parts

"Through Lightness Dark Shall Break" was composed in response to the overwhelming sense of sorrow and confusion following the 2017 Las Vegas shooting. In a time marked by tragedy, this work seeks to affirm that light and humanity persist, even when darkness feels most present.

One morning, while driving to work, I saw a mother and her son sitting on a bench waiting for the bus. As she handed him a doughnut, his face lit up with joy. Just a short distance down the road, a father zipped up his young daughter’s backpack while she stood beside him, holding a balloon that looked like it was for her birthday. These simple moments, so easy to overlook, struck me deeply. They reminded me that despite the violence and sorrow that often dominate the news, small, beautiful acts of care and joy continue to unfold around us every day.

The title emerged late in the compositional process, reflecting a shift in perspective from despair to hope. This piece is not about ignoring hardship but about choosing to see and hold onto light where it still exists. It is a reminder that our identities and communities can be shaped by compassion, connection, and the goodness we too often overlook.

Through Darkness Light Shall Break

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The inspiration for the title of this piece comes from a drive home one night while I was living in Tampa, FL. Like many summer nights in Florida, there was a violent thunderstorm rolling across the bay. I had experienced driving in Florida thunderstorms many times before, but this one was different. At this point in time, I was living on Davis Islands which is accessed by just one bridge south of downtown. As I pulled onto the bridge, I realized I was in the dead center of the storm, driving on what was the highest point within a half-mile radius. I've never been a big fan of lightning, but I have never been terrified of it until this moment. Bolts of lightning were colliding with the bay on both sides of the bridge. In the 30 seconds I was on the bridge, there were, what felt like, 10-15 strikes of lightning within view. 
When I was asked to write this piece, I immediately recalled this moment and knew it must be the inspiration for this piece. I searched for a title that not only represented this terrifying and powerful moment, but also paid homage to the beauty of the city that I called home for four years. The term "Sticks of Fire" has a few different meanings to it, the first being it is believed the word "tampa" may have meant "sticks of fire" in the language of the Calusa Native American tribe which used to inhabit the Tampa area; and therefore, the city was named such because of the high number of lightning strikes it receives each year. Sticks of Fire is also the title of a sculpture residing in Plant Park at The University of Tampa where I received my undergraduate degree. I felt this term perfectly encapsulated the power of the trombone which guided my writing of the piece.

Sticks of Fire

Trombone Ensemble

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Concerto for Alto Saxophone & Wind Ensemble

Through Darkness Light Shall Break

Sticks of Fire