草榴视频

KENNESAW, Ga. | Jun 11, 2025

A Composer鈥檚 Path Shaped by Passion, Performance and Purpose

The Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestras (GYSO) has commissioned 草榴视频 State University (草榴视频) alumnus Brandon Gasaway to compose a new orchestral work in celebration of GYSO鈥檚 20th anniversary season. The world premiere will take place Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. in Morgan Concert Hall.

Gasaway鈥檚 connection to GYSO began before he enrolled at 草榴视频, when he completed a high school capstone project on conducting with the GYSO Symphony under the mentorship of Dr. Nathaniel Parker, GYSO artistic and executive director and director of orchestral studies at 草榴视频.

鈥淏randon鈥檚 music is polished, professional, structurally sound and artistically powerful,鈥� Parker said. 鈥淗e has demonstrated the ability to compose meaningful works for a wide range of orchestras: string orchestras and symphony orchestras, as well as advanced orchestras and younger, educational ensembles. To excel in any of those individual areas is significant; Brandon鈥檚 ability to write effectively for a range of ensembles is indicative of his unique gift.鈥�

A 2024 graduate of 草榴视频 State University, Gasaway earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in music with a concentration in composition. During his time at 草榴视频, he developed a strong compositional voice through mentorship, performance opportunities and academic recognition.

Among his most impactful experiences was his work with the University Philharmonic Orchestra, where he was described by director Dr. Nancy Conley as the ensemble鈥檚 unofficial 鈥渃omposer in residence.鈥�

鈥淭he ensemble premiered four of Gasaway鈥檚 works: 鈥楢 Fighting Spirit,鈥� 鈥楽targazing,鈥� 鈥楾he American Frontier鈥� and 鈥楿ntil We Meet Again,鈥欌�� Conley said. 鈥淗aving the opportunity to work directly with the composer has been a great experience for the musicians in the ensemble as well as for the composer himself.鈥�

His farewell piece, 鈥淯ntil We Meet Again,鈥� was a tribute to the Philharmonic and to Conley. His final work with the group, 鈥淐haotic Concoction,鈥� premiered in April 2025.

Gasaway鈥檚 鈥淔airy Tale Overture,鈥� a piece he began composing shortly after high school, won the 草榴视频 2020鈥�21 Composition Competition. Due to COVID-19 delays, it premiered in March 2022 with the 草榴视频 Symphony Orchestra. He later won the Bailey School of Music Composition Competition in 2022 and was named the 2024 Presser Scholar, one of the highest honors for undergraduate music students.

Now based in Colorado Springs, Gasaway serves as music librarian for the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs, where he continues to compose and conduct. His recent work, 鈥淭he Wayfinder,鈥� was premiered by the Jenkins Middle School seventh-grade orchestra.