Flying High: Concert Band Conductor Score

Owens crafts pieces that sound far more sophisticated than their technical demands suggest. Flying High proves that limiting yourself to six pitches doesn't mean limiting musicality: the sweeping melodic lines and robust harmonies command attention, while the strategic lyrical section gives students breathing room before the energetic finish. It's the kind of opener that leaves your audience wondering how a Level ½ band achieved that impact.

The piece captures the exhilaration of flight with propulsive rhythms and soaring melodic lines that create an immediate sense of lift and forward motion. When the music pulls back into its lyrical moment, you hear the vulnerability beneath the confidence, only to surge ahead with renewed vigor and purpose.

This conductor score is designed for band directors leading beginning and early intermediate ensembles who want contemporary concert repertoire that challenges students musically without overwhelming them technically. It works equally well for contest and festival settings where you need a piece that impresses judges while remaining accessible to younger players.

• Balance the opening melodic lines across the ensemble so the sweep feels unified rather than scattered; the energy comes from precision, not volume.
• Shape the brief lyrical section with genuine expression in the low brass and reed voices; this moment of restraint makes the return to full ensemble even more powerful.
• Drive toward the rousing finish by building momentum gradually through the final phrase rather than front-loading the energy.

Open a concert with this to establish energy and confidence in your band, or use it as a bridge piece when programming between more complex works. Its contemporary character and contest-festival credentials make it a smart choice for bands needing fresh, engaging repertoire that translates well in competitive settings.

• Sustaining ensemble energy across longer musical phrases
• Balancing lyrical playing in low brass and reeds with precision rhythmic playing in the full ensemble
• Responding to dynamic and tempo changes that shape the overall arc
• Executing clean articulation in rapid rhythmic passages