Rise is a two-movement work commissioned by the California WindBand Consortium. I wanted to create a new piece that could be presented in three distinct ways: Both movements played back-to-back; standalone movements (“Beginnings” can be a concert opener or encore, and “Farewell Song” can be placed anywhere in a program); or having the movements bookend an entire program(i.e., the concert begins with“Beginnings” and closes with “Farewell Song.”)“Beginnings” is designed to function as a long gradual crescendo. It begins with a rhythmic ostinato that becomes the driving force for the entire movement. As it progresses, the orchestration and overall intensity grows, ultimately creating an uplifting and optimistic ending.“Farewell Song” is based on the final movement of my violin concerto, Orchard in Fog. This movement is meant to have a timeless feel, simultaneously serving as an atmospheric and pastoral-landscape type of sonic experience, while also being imagined as a goodbye song to a loved one.A special thank you to John Burdett andRickeyBadua, who were not only instrumental in making the commission happen, but also provided me with invaluable guidance in creating a piece that would work for both high school and collegiate ensembles.