Once Upon a Symphony

Once Upon A Symphony, James M. Stephenson (2021) 45'for full orchestra or 13-player chamber orchestraBased on Compose Yourself! In 2002, after prodding from his colleagues, James (Jim) M. Stephenson composed “Compose Yourself!” to be used for young-audience concerts by the orchestra in which he was playing: the Naples Philharmonic. The piece was an interactive and engaging showcase for the orchestra, demonstrating the instruments and sections of the orchestra with a fast-paced script and exciting demonstrations of the sounds of a symphony. The highlight of the piece was a demonstration of how composers put melody, harmony, and rhythm together, culminating with volunteers from the audience composing and premiering a new piece of music on the spot. Compose Yourself! – in its original form – has been a successful educational demonstration for orchestras across the globe, with now over 350 performances having taken place in the last 20 years. Looking for further ways to engage the audience