Concert Band New Releases

Teachers keep coming back to Star Wars® Main Theme by John Williams (Grade 1) and Arabian Dances by Roland Barrett (Grade 2) for their immediate appeal and clean copyist parts. Cantina Band, also by Williams at Grade 1.5, rounds out the John Williams selections that dominate this collection's most-adopted titles. Tripwire by JaRod Hall at Grade 2 offers more contemporary energy for bands ready to step beyond theme-based programming.

Recent additions include Futurescape by Todd Stalter, TRACK OF TITANS/MDB by Brian Balmages, Bright Horizon by Scott Watson, Skeleton Crew by Timothy Loest, and Winter Song by Kenley Kristofferson, all released in June 2026.

Robert Sheldon is among the most performed composers for wind band today. His Appalachian Morning appears in this collection, and his pedagogical influence extends through Sound Innovations for Concert Band, a resource many teachers know from their own studios. His work is built on the principle that good band music communicates expression across all levels of ensemble development.

Brian Balmages writes across orchestral, band, and chamber idioms with equal fluency. His Wings to the Mind is a popular title here, and his compositions have been performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. He received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association and won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Award.

Robert W. Smith is prolific, with over 400 publications to his name. The Great Locomotive Chase represents his gift for programmatic storytelling that holds young musicians' attention while building ensemble skills. His works have been performed worldwide and remain standards in school band repertoire.

Douglas E. Wagner brings three decades of high school teaching experience into his composing. With more than 3,500 titles published since 1973, his Pure Imagination arrangement demonstrates how well he understands what works in school settings. His range spans choir, concert band, orchestra, and handbells.