Two of Joseph T. Spaniola’s compositions have advanced to the semi-finals round of The 2018 – 2019 American Prize in Composition: BLOW, EASTERN WINDS (Wind Ensemble) in the Band/Wind Ensemble division and DREAM (Euphonium and String Quartet) in the Instrumental chamber Music division. The American Prize celebrates American Excellence in the Arts. The final adjudication for both divisions will occur in the coming weeks.

On Friday, Dec. 21, 2018, UWF’s Joseph T. Spaniola’s newly commissioned composition, PASSAGE: Sempre Avanti (Trombone Ensemble) will be presented by the University of Central Arkansas at the Midwest Clinic (Chicago, IL), an International Band and Orchestra Conference. The Midwest Clinic is one of the world’s largest Band and Orchestra conferences. Presentation at this conference is a high honor and offers exposure to approximately 18,000 global conference attendees. UCA is the lead member of 21-institution consortium that commissioned this Spaniola composition.

On Dec. 12, 2018, Joseph T. Spaniola’s newly commissioned composition, PASSAGE: Sempre Avanti (Trombone Ensemble) will be presented by the Columbus State University Trombone Ensemble (Columbus, Georgia) at the Lӓtzsch Trombone Festival, an International Trombone Conference that takes place in Heek, Germany and Enschede, The Netherlands. The prestigious five-day festival is an international mix of top trombonists and emerging talent. CSU is a member of 21-institution consortium that commissioned this Spaniola composition.

A consortium of 21 institutions commissioned Joseph T. Spaniola to compose PASSAGE: Sempre Avanti (Trombone Ensemble) to be presented at the 2018 International Trombone Festival in July. The University of Central Arkansas presented the world premiere at the conference. Members of the consortium will present premieres of the piece throughout the coming year. On Nov. 3 the Indiana University Trombone Choir will present the Indiana premiere, and on Nov. 4 the Columbus State University Trombone Ensemble will present the Georgia premiere.

Joseph T. Spaniola was commissioned by the Missouri Association for Jazz Education’s Leon Bradley Memorial Grant to write a special arrangement for Trombone Quintet as an 80th Anniversary Tribute to Leon Bradley. Bradley toured with the Woody Herman and Stan Kenton Big Bands, and taught at Minot State University and the College of the Ozarks (Point Lookout, Missouri). The tribute, titled “Here’s Leon’s Rainy Day,” was recorded by Leon’s son, trombonist Karl Bradley and is posted on the “Leon Bradley Memorial Grant” Facebook page.