As One: Concert Band Conductor Score

Bernotas crafts pieces that solve a real conducting challenge: how to engage early intermediate players without relying on tired clichés. The optional solos that build into the full ensemble create natural motivation for section players to listen and blend, turning what could be a simple overture into an ensemble-building moment. Paired with a fun groove section and memorable themes, this is a piece that sounds better each rehearsal.

Bright and accessible, with the energy of musicians discovering their collective voice. The piece balances lighthearted charm in its melodies with a genuinely groovy rhythmic section that feels modern without being trendy, creating the sensation of an ensemble growing from individual voices into unified sound.

Directors leading Grade 1.5 concert bands who want a piece with genuine musical substance and a clear arc. Players need solid fundamentals but not virtuosic facility, making this ideal for intermediate school through early high school bands looking for contest or festival repertoire.

• Balance the optional solos so they sit comfortably above the ensemble texture without overwhelming it; this makes the gradual unification effect actually audible to the audience.
• Establish the groove section with clear subdivision from the rhythm section; locking the feel here makes the piece feel tighter and more confident.
• Let the full ensemble entrance land with weight and unity after the solos have woven together; this payoff moment deserves preparation and precision.
• Use the 3:20 running time as an advantage for programming; it fills a concert slot efficiently without requiring filler material.

Program this as an opener or closer where the unity theme carries weight beyond the notes themselves. The optional solos make it especially valuable for showcasing individual section accomplishments while demonstrating how those parts fit into the larger ensemble vision, making it ideal for concerts centered on student achievement or growth.

• Listening and blending within and across sections
• Maintaining ensemble pulse through rhythmic complexity
• Balancing solo lines with accompanying parts
• Responding to textural shifts and dynamic layering
• Building confidence in foundational concert band fundamentals