Trevor Frost, a second-year D.M.A. student in wind band conducting with a related area in composition, was one of six composers selected for the “Composing in the Wilderness” program in Alaska in June. During his adventure, he experienced 10 days in the inspiring backcountry of Lake Clark National Park and will now compose a new band work to be performed around the country.
Now in its 11th year, the unique “Composing in the Wilderness” program is led by adventurer-composer Stephen Lias and offered by the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival in collaboration with Alaska Geographic and the National Park Service.
Twenty-three composers applied, and only six were selected through a rigorous selection process, including Frost.
“It was truly a life-changing experience,” Frost said. “We all met the morning of June 4 in Anchorage, where we took a bush plane to Port Alsworth, a little port town with about 200 inhabitants. From there, we took three float planes and flew over a saddle in the mountain range and landed on the lake. They taxied us to shore, we unloaded our equipment, and they flew away. From there, we officially began our experience living in the Alaskan wilderness.”
A knee injury during a hike the first day gave Frost some doubts about whether he should be there or not, but he persevered and experienced an incredible adventure.
“Our final full day, we went on another hike. My knee was feeling a lot better because of the knee brace. I remembered that first night and my doubt. I told myself I can do this. I deserve to be here, and that I will make myself proud,” he said. “We got to the top, and I felt refreshed. We spent about an hour on top of the mountain taking in the landscape and thinking about our prompts. I took the time to meditate, living in the moment and absorbing the environment. It was a spiritual moment for me, meditating on top of a mountain in Alaska. I felt my spirit connected with the Earth below me. It was cleansing for me.”
He was proud to push himself beyond his comfort zone.
“This was physically the most challenging experience I have ever had, but I’m so happy that I did it. I went on this journey for me,” he said.
Each composer was given a prompt and will use that inspiration to compose new works for wind ensemble that will be premiered in 2024 by three university wind ensembles, including the Glenn Korff School of Music’s Wind Ensemble, as well as the Stephen F. Austin Wind Ensemble (Texas) and the Grand Valley State University Wind Symphony (Michigan).
Frost will be writing a six-minute, grade 4 piece for wind ensemble that should be “light, humorous or playful.”
“At first I was having a hard time with my prompt because there was no part of this place I viewed as ‘light, humorous or playful,’” Frost said. “I was lying down in my tent during an early morning, and I decided to record some birds who were singing to each other. Inspiration hit me. I knew how this contemplative, majestic and beautiful place was ‘light, humorous or playful’—the birds flying and singing with each other.”
Frost said this experience has helped him as a composer.
“As a composer, this experience has given me more insight on how to create music that is multidimensional and transformative,” he said. “I’ve always felt that my ‘Chorale and Dance,’ written in 2021 was a turning point in my compositional voice. Although I view that still to be true today, my experience in the Alaskan wilderness has confirmed this transformation in my compositional voice. I describe my music as a single seed that which contains the world.”
Frost has about six months to finish his wind ensemble piece and will turn in the completed work around Jan. 1, 2024.
“The works will be premiered in the spring 2024 semester or the fall 2024 semester,” he said. “I hope it will be in the spring because I graduate next year. Not only will the Wind Ensemble here at UNL be premiering it, but the Stephen F. Austin University Wind Ensemble and The Grand Valley State University Wind Symphony will be as well.”
Carolyn Barber, the Ron and Carol Cope Professor of Music, Director of Bands and director of the Wind Ensemble, said having a UNL composer in the mix will only enhance the experience for the Wind Ensemble.
“I am familiar with his compositions, and the project seemed like a great fit for him,” she said. “It will be fun having a person on the ‘inside’ of the composition side of the project. That will really enrich the Wind Ensemble’s experience when we start prepping the program.”
Frost said he learned the importance of being comfortable with being uncomfortable.
“The only way you learn about yourself is to visit the realm outside of your comfort zone,” he said.
For more on Frost and his participation in this program, visit https://go.unl.edu/jmv0. Find him on Instagram, SoundCloud and YouTube at @trevorfrostmusic.