Commissioning Program

Commissioning Program History

During the administration of Grand President Hugh E. McMillen (Alpha Iota) 1951-1953, the Fraternity adopted one of its most innovative and noteworthy continuing activities. Brother McMillen saw in the National Intercollegiate Band and its sponsoring fraternity and sorority the perfect vehicle for a lasting contribution to the field of concert band literature. He proposed a program to commission a special work for concert band by a noteworthy composer in Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma’s name.

World premiere renditions have been a highlight of National Intercollegiate Band concerts since 1953. Leading musicians have been commissioned by the fraternity and sorority to compose numbers for this purpose. Such noted works include Francis McBeth’s the Seventh Seal, Claude T. Smith’s Symphony #1 for Band, and Fisher Tull’s Prelude & Double Fugue. Several of these composers have also served as guest conductors.

The commissioned work demands the highest in technical proficiency and musicality, as well as be of sufficient merit to rank with the best in the concert band music genre. The commission is offered by Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma to someone demonstrating proven abilities in composing for band, but also to someone who might have never investigated this unique medium and should be encouraged to write for concert band.

The commissioning program of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma has made a significant impact on band music in America. Since its creation, the program has been responsible for more than 25 new pieces of band literature and has come to be considered of prime importance in our national program of Service to Music.

Commissioned Works for Band

1953 Ballet for Band – Don Gillis
1957 Symphonic Songs for Band – Robert Russell Bennett
1959 Prelude and Dance – Paul Creston
1963 Symphonic Essays – Clifton Williams
1965 Symphonic Requiem – Vaclav Nehlybel
1967 Study in Textures – Gunther Schuller
1969 Songs of Abelard – Norman Dello Joio
1971 The Seventh Seal – W. Francis McBeth
1973 Concerto for Trumpet and Wind Orchestra – Karel Husa
1975 Let Us Now Praise Famous Men – Martin Mailman
1977 Symphony #1 for Band – Claude T. Smith
1979 Prelude & Double Fugue – Fisher A. Tull
1981 LUX: Legend of Sankta Lucia – Mary Jeanne van Appledorn
1983 Stars and Stripes Variations – Robert Jager
1985 Chorale Prelude: “Mein junges Leben hat ein End,” Op. 61 – James Barnes
1987 Overture Alfresco – Jerry Bilik
1989 Symphonic Canticle – David R. Holsinger
Athenian Festival – Anne McGinty
1991 Hymn Variants (based on “Lasst Uns Erfreuen” (1623)) – Alfred Reed
1993 Daystar Symphonic Variations for Wind and Percussion – James Curnow
1995 A Tuning Piece: Songs of Fall and Winter – David Maslanka
1997 Rondo Jubiloso – John Zdechlik
1999 Unusual Behavior in Ceremonies Involving Drums – Daniel Bukvich
2001 Mourning Dances – Timothy Mahr
2003 Bandancing – Jack Stamp
2005 The Seasons – Philip Sparke
2007 Celestial Dancers – Eric Ewazen
2009 Two American Canvases – Mark Camphouse
2011 Repercussions – Adam Gorb
2013 (Redacted) – John Mackey
2015 Of Blood & Stone: Pyramids of Giza – Julie Giroux
2017 Miniature Suite – Steven Bryant
2019 Fanfare for Friends – Joel Puckett
2021 Suspended – Alex Shapiro

Though not considered a part of the commissioning program, the following works should also be familiar to every member of our organizations. Each was composed by an individual close to the Fraternity and Sorority, and presented to us as an expression of this appreciation for the work of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.

1931 Kappa Kappa Psi March – J. DeForrest Cline
1934 Kappa Kappa Psi March – Bohumil Makovsky
1961 National Intercollegiate Band March – Richard Franko Goldman
1971 Tau Beta Sigma March – Donald I. Moore; Commissioned by Ladine Bennett Housholder
1992 Crest of Allegiance – Robert Foster; Commissioned by Elizabeth Ludwig Fennell
1999 From This Wilderness – Roland Barrett Culloden – Julie Giroux; Commissioned by Lt Col Alan Bonner, USAF (ret.)
2000 an American Elegy – Frank Ticheli Commissioned by the Alpha Iota Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
2001 “Come, memory…” – Donald Grantham Commissioned by Kappa Kappa Psi & Tau Beta Sigma

Full List of Commissioned Pieces by Our Organizations, KKΨ & TBΣ

Along with our efforts to commission pieces nationally, several of our chapters have taken it upon themselves to commission works through the years for band. The following list contains every piece commissioned by Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma as part of our chapters’ efforts to commission works on their own. If your chapter has commissioned a piece that is not a part of our list, please submit that information by using this form.

Year	Title	Composer	Commissioned By
1931	Kappa Kappa Psi March	J. DeForrest Cline	Unknown
1933	The March of Kappa Kappa Psi	Joseph O. DeLuca	Kappa Kappa Psi
1934	Kappa Kappa Psi March	Bohumil Makovsky	Unknown
1961	National Intercollegiate Band March	Richard Franko Goldman	Unknown
1971	Propagula	Robert Linn	Alpha Psi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Tau Beta Sigma March	Donald I. Moore	Ladine Bennet Housholder
1973	Dilemnae	William Latham	Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma Chapters at West Texas State University (K-Alpha Psi and T-Xi)
1975	March in Measured Time	Norman J. Nelson	Alpha Psi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
1976	Dance Variations	John Zdechlik	Gamma Pi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Reflection of an Old Hymn Tune	Richard Willis	Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma chapters at Northeast Louisiana State University (K-Epsilon Theta & T-Delta Sigma)
1977	American Ballads	Morton Gould	Alpha Psi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
1978	Affirmation and Credo	Claude T. Smith	Delta Rho Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
1979	Dance Scene	Michael Hennigan	Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma chapters at Northeast Louisiana State University (K-Epsilon Theta & T-Delta Sigma)
1980	Caccia for Band	W. Francis McBeth	Gamma Phi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	King Ubu	Michael Schelle	Alpha Beta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
1981	Cantique and Festival	Jared Spears	Delta Rho Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Chamarita	Roger Nixon	Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma chapters at the University of Florida (K-Alpha Eta & T-Beta Xi)
1983	A Cantata for Band to Remember Don Baird	Norman J. Nelson	Alpha Psi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Concerto for Winds, Brass & Percussion	Larry Alan Smith	Alpha Psi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
1984	Palo Duro Suite	Gerald Busby	Alpha Psi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Seven Deadly Sins	Robert Xavier Rodriguez	Zeta Kappa Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	unnamed work in progress that was due summer 1984	David Holsinger	Gamma Phi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and Beta Zeta Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
1985	Sinfonia Dramatica or Fantasia for Euphonium and Wind Orchestra	Arnold Franchetti	Alpha Beta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Sinfonia Drammatica	Arnold Franchetti	Alpha Beta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Sinfonia for Winds and Percussion	John Boda	Gamma Nu Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and Alpha Omega Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
1987	Varients on an Ancient Air	James Curnow	Gamma Phi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and Beta Zeta Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
1988	Catcher of Shadows	Philip Wilby	Iota Alpha Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	In The Spring at the Time When Kings Go Off to War	David Holsinger	Gamma Phi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
1989	Danse Celestial	Robert Sheldon	Eta Alpha Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and Beta Xi Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
	In Memoriam	David Maslanka	Delta Sigma Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Riverwalk	Carl Johnson	Eta Phi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and Eta Alpha Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
1991	Gaian Viions	Frank Ticheli	Gamma Phi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Infinite Horizons	John Cheetham	Alpha Omicron Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Long May it Wave	Sammy Nestico	Epsilon Phi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
1992	But God’s Own Descent	John White	Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma chapters at the University of Florida (K-Alpha Eta & T-Beta Xi)
	Crest of Allegiance	Robert Foster	Elizabeth Ludwig Fennell
1994	Fanfare Variants for Concert Band	Dennis D. Griffin	Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma chapters at Utah State University (K-Iota Iota & T-Theta Eta)
1995	Memoriam for the Glenwood Fourteen	Walter Cummings	Midwest District of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma
1996	A Gathering of Angels	Jared Spears	Epsilon Kappa Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
1997	A Fraternal Prelude	Gary Powell Nash	Eta Gamma Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Capitan Majesty	Timothy Rhea	Alpha Omicron Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and Beta Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
	Desert Winds	Cynthia Folio	Alpha Epsilon Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Revenge of the Darkseekers	Stephen Melillo	Theta Alpha Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and Eta Epsilon Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
	Suite: Guiding Spirit	William G. Rose	Iota Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Passage	Frank Felice	Alpha Beta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
1998	Dark Dreams of a Circus Bandstand	David Williams	Omicron Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Portrait: North and South Maroon	Paul Rudy	Gamma Psi Chapter of TBS, Alpha Rho Chapter of KKPsi, NSU Bands
1999	From This Wilderness	Roland Barrett	Kappa Kappa Psi
2000	An American Elegy	Frank Ticheli	Alpha Iota Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Culloden	Julie Giroux	Lt. Col Alan Bonner, USAF (ret.)
	Four Maryland Songs	Jack Stamp	Gamma Xi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Jamboree	Kimberly K. Archer	Northeast District of Kappa Kappa Psi & Tau Beta Sigma
2001	Come, Memory…	Donald Grantham	Kappa Kappa Psi & Tau Beta Sigma
	From the Mountains	Jay Chattaway	Omicron Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Hands of Mercy	Julie Giroux	Unknown
	The Imperceptible Voices Cloaked in Wind	Jerome P. Miskell	North Central District of Kappa Kappa Psi
	To the Summit! (Strive for the Highest)	Robert W. Smith	Southeast District of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma
2002	Cloudless Day, Bitter Sky	Donald Grantham	Epsilon Kappa Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and Delta Tau Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
	Dakota	MJ Cotton	Kappa Mu Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	High Adventure	Randol Bass	Theta Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
	Into the Solitude	Katherine Murdock	Alpha Mu Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
2003	Caccia	Chip Clark	Delta Delta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Colors Aloft	Daniel Godfrey	Gamma Nu Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Dances of Nahawand	Scott R. Reister	Iota Omicron Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Morning Song	Philip Sparke	Beta Kappa Chapter of Kappa Kappa Pi and Alpha Xi Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
	Traveler	David Maslanka	Delta Sigma Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and Gamma Nu Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
2005	Fanatic Fanfare	Paul Richards	Alpha Eta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
2006	Ancient Irish Hymn	Sean O’Loughlin (arranger)	Eta Phi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Home Again	Brian Biddle	Alpha Beta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Husaria Cavalry Overture	Julie Giroux	Omicron Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Variations on How Firm a Foundation	Stephen Emmons	Epsilon Kappa Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
2007	Dream	Adam F. Brennan	Gamma Chi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Mansions of Glory	David Gillingham	Lambda Epsilon Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and Theta Beta Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
	Purple Heart	David Shaffer	Epsilon Xi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and Delta Epsilon Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
	Vairations on a Maine Theme	Craig Skeffington	Epsilon Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
2008	Fuse	Rob Smith	Theta Nu Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Loud Sunsets	George Lam	Theta Beta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Zing	Scott McAllister	Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma chapters at Baylor University
2009	A Century of Opportunity Celebration	Lester Pack	Zeta Zeta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	A Little Learning is a Dangerous Thing	Eric Honour	Lambda Omega Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Concerto for Piano and Wind Orchestra: Solar Traveller	Judith Lang Zaimont	Lambda Lambda Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	The Gates of the Wonder-World Open	Joseph C. Phillips	Gamma Xi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
2010	Always We Begin Again	Patrick Burns	Sigma Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Back to Old Fairview	Michael Leckrone	Alpha Beta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
	Centrifuge	Todd Malicoate	KKPsi, TBS, SAI and PMA at Oklahoma State University
	Glass Menagerie	Brant Karrick	Beta Rho Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
2011	Ecstatic Waters	Steven Bryant	Ohio University Chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi & Tau Beta Sigma
	Someday	Zachary J. Friedland	Theta Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
2012	Blue and White Dance	Andrew Boysen, Jr.	Kappa Kappa Psi Northeast District
	The Unbreakable Bond	Jesse M Stevens	Kappa Kappa Psi Southeast District
2013	untitled as of 2011	Steven Bryant	North Central District Consortium of Kappa Kappa Psi
2024	White on Blue	Danielle Fisher	Gamma Delta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
Unknown Date	Ascension	Michael Hennigan	Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma chapters at Northeast Louisiana State University (K-Epsilon Theta & T-Delta Sigma)
Unknown Date	Century Tower	James Barnes	Beta Xi Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
Unknown Date	Chronologue	Jared Spears	Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma chapters at Northeast Louisiana State University (K-Epsilon Theta & T-Delta Sigma)
Unknown Date	Concerto for Winds	William Schmidt	Alpha Theta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
Unknown Date	Credo	Fisher Tull	Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma chapters at Northeast Louisiana State University (K-Epsilon Theta & T-Delta Sigma)
Unknown Date	Divertimento for Wind Ensemble	Bruce Yurko	Alpha Theta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
Unknown Date	Ecloeue	Ronald LoPresti	Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma chapters at Northeast Louisiana State University (K-Epsilon Theta & T-Delta Sigma)
Unknown Date	Fantasy and Cantilena	Armand Russell	Gamma Phi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
Unknown Date	Festive Proclamation	Billy Madison	Delta Rho Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
Unknown Date	Magnificant Victimae Paschali	Bradley Nelson	Alpha Beta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
Unknown Date	Oohs and Aahs for 13 Unlucky Winds	Michael Close	Alpha Beta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
Unknown Date	Overture to the 3rd Millenium	Ronald LoPresti	Beta Omicron Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
Unknown Date	Prelude, Intermezzo, & Passacaglia	John Zdechlik	Delta Omega Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
Unknown Date	Rondo Capriccio	John Zdechlik	Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma chapters at Louisiana State University (K-Beta Gamma & T-Alpha Lambda)
Unknown Date	Symphonic Episode	Ralph Hermann	Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma chapters at Northeast Louisiana State University (K-Epsilon Theta & T-Delta Sigma)
Unknown Date	Symphony #1 for Band	Carl Vollrath	Zeta Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi