Viet Cuong

Beyond The Notes is excited to announce a new annual project called “ComMission Possible”. The goal of this project is to provide middle school students with the opportunity to actively participate in the creation of a new composition for band, choir, or orchestra. Students from participating ensembles will have the opportunity to submit ideas to be considered by the composer. Participating BTN festival ensembles will also have the opportunity to apply to perform the world premiere of the composition with the composer in attendance. 

ComMission Possible One will be a grade 2.5 work for band written by composer Viet Cuong. Viet Cuong is a Vietnamese-American composer. Praised as "alluring" by The New York Times and "irresistible" by The San Francisco Chronicle, Cuong's music has been performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center. His full, extraordinary bio along with recordings of his compositions can be found on his website - https://vietcuongmusic.com/

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Student Ideas Submitted - Nov 20, 2022

Student Ideas Submitted!  Nearly one hundred student ideas for the ComMission 2023 project with Viet Cuong were submitted. A committee selected 15 ideas that were forwarded to composer Cuong to consider for the new band composition. Composer Cuong will announce the direction the composition will take on or around November 15. Congratulations to the following students and thank you for the brilliant ideas:

Kettle Moraine MS ​(Cathe Kuehn) Charles Bittner - Underwater Coral Reef Makena Weber - Colorful Forest	Columbus MS (Jake Hammer) Kayla Chu - New Norm: Teens Adjusting After COVID 19	Oregon MS (Kati Seiter) Isabel Niemeyer - Spooky Magic Brady Bartlett - Battle of the Two Wizards Zach Lemke - Tale of the Japanese Fisherman
Chequamegon MS (Kristen Kirch) Alexander Makela - Hope MaKya Singer - Making Maple Syrup	Glacier Creek MS (Anne Vanderbloemen) Andrew Upton - Standstill During War Maggie Babel-Co - Creepy Forest Walk Katarine Miller - O.K. Corral	Patrick Marsh MS (Jen Diallo) Keegan Shields - Rock Creature Battle Babette Loesch - Global Education Journey
Wisconsin Hills MS (Sarah Marman) Tanya Nel - The Colosseum	Auburndale MS (Jenni Nueske) ​Nora Teska - Beautiful Birds Of The Sky: A Call For Peace & Hope	ComMission Possible ONE

Host School Selected!

ComMission Possible ONE Host School SelectedCongratulations to Kristen Kirch and the Chequamegon Middle School Band on their selection as the host for the ComMission One Project! Planning is already underway to have composer Viet Cuong collaborate with the ensemble prior to his visit at the World Premiere in May. Exact dates and times of the premiere will be shared once planning has been confirmed. Remember, the new work for band will be sent free of charge to all 2023 BTN participating bands!

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Concept Selected - Dec 2, 2022

Viet has selected the idea for the commission. The concept he is going with was suggested by Charlie Bittner from Kettle Moraine MS. Here's the description Charlie submitted:
An underwater coral reef that has many varieties of fish and coral. It could be the great barrier reef. Maybe sharks or some other carnivore comes and attacks during the song. Underwater volcanoes in the background.
Here's what Viet wrote: 
The one I was really drawn to was Charles’ (bari sax) idea to write a piece that feels like it’s underwater, possibly about coral reefs. I already know how I would approach it, and I’m excited about that!

Viet Cuong Video Interview (Student Questions)  - Dec 20, 2022

What's Next?

• May 10 - Viet will fly to Wisconsin to work with the Chequamegon Middle School Band during the day and then be in attendance for the World Premiere Performance of the new composition that evening at 7:00 PM
• May 11 - All of the bands attending the Beyond The Notes Music Festival will receive a complimentary copy of the new composition!