The Mile High Freedom Bands is pleased to announce the winner of our third commission project. A wide variety of composers from around the world submitted applications. After a rigorous review of those submissions, the artistic review panel is pleased to award the commission to composer Amber Sheeran.

Amber Sheeran is a American composer from the beautiful mountain state of Colorado. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Composition and a Teacher Licensure in Music Education at Colorado State University, Fort Collins. There, she studies with Dr. James David in Composition, Dr. Wesley Ferreira on Clarinet, and Dr. Forest Greenough on String Bass. Miss Sheeran has written multiple works for Colorado State’s Middle School Outreach Program, including a band work for the 2019-2020 season, and four flex trios/quartets for the 2020-2021 season. She currently resides in Littleton, CO where she enjoys gardening, and spending time with her family.

Derek Hebert, Artistic Director of the Mile High Freedom Bands, said, “We are thrilled to continue our annual program to commission new works for concert band. It speaks to the core of our mission to engage with new and diverse composers and provide a stage for exciting new music. Amber’s submission was engaging, entertaining, and will be a great fit for MHFB. We can’t wait to rehearse and perform her music!”

MHFB is proud to support new music, new composers, and collaborative efforts to expand the concert band
repertoire. Through this project, the band has set out to engage with composers who are relatively unknown and/or have been historically marginalized or otherwise have had difficulty having their voice expressed.

The commissioned work is scheduled to be premiered at MHFB’s “Infinite Diversity” performance on May 14, 2022 at The Studio Loft in Denver, Colorado.