Flourishes!: Concert Band Conductor Score

Opening a concert requires confidence, and this piece delivers exactly that without draining your ensemble's energy before the main event. Owens writes with remarkable clarity about what young bands can actually execute, so the spirited character comes through cleanly rather than sounding thin or overreached. The variety of tonal colors means every section gets a moment to shine, which builds ensemble ownership from the downbeat.

Flourishes announces itself without apology. The opening strikes with brass brightness and rhythmic drive, then the piece opens into warm harmonies and shifting instrumental colors that keep the ear engaged. It feels composed, not assembled, with the kind of professional polish that reminds audiences they're hearing musicians who know what they're doing.

Concert bands at the upper middle school or early high school level will find this accessible without being simplistic. It works equally well for competitive festivals and community concert openers where you want to project confidence and musicality.

• Establish the bold opening gesture with crisp articulation in the brass, then let the harmonies bloom without dragging the tempo. Owens writes spirited music that needs forward momentum.
• Balance the ensemble so lush passages don't blur under weight. Young bands often unconsciously press here; lighter dynamic control reveals the harmonic writing.
• Highlight the tonal shifts between sections. When one color yields to another, make that transition audible so the audience experiences the variety Owens built into the piece.

Save this for your concert opener when you need to signal energy and control to the audience right away. Its modest length and engaging character make it ideal for festival competitions where you want a strong impression before deeper repertoire. It also pairs well with more substantial works later on the program since it doesn't demand full endurance reserves.

• Crisp articulation and tonguing in mixed brass textures
• Ensemble balance across sustained harmonies
• Quick tonal color shifts between instrumental families
• Forward-moving tempo control in spirited contexts