Composer, Associate Professor of Composition and Chair of the Composition Area at Michigan State University David Biedenbender has won the prestigious 2024 Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Award for his trumpet concerto River of Time. This achievement highlights not only his individual talent but also the vibrant and innovative culture within MSU’s College of Music.
River of Time was chosen from a pool of 152 entries submitted by composers from 14 different countries. Further displaying his outstanding contribution to contemporary wind ensemble music is the fact that a second Biedenbender composition, Enigma, was also one of four finalists in the competition.
A performance of the winning composition will take place at the 90th American Bandmasters Association ( Convention in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Feb. 28, 2025, in a concert by the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” A recording and the score of River of Time is available for listening online.
A journey through River of Time
A deeply personal work, Biedenbender’s River of Time navigates the complexities of time and experience. Structured as a trumpet concerto in three movements, the piece draws inspiration from both modern physics and philosophy, blending scientific inquiry with meditative reflection.
The first movement, which evokes the beginning of time, pulls from ideas found in Carlo Rovelli’s The Order of Time. Biedenbender was fascinated by the paradoxes of time at different scales, from the quantum to the cosmic. This scientific exploration of time’s fluidity contrasts with the second movement, which focuses on the present moment, influenced by Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations.
In a particularly poignant context, this movement became a channel for Biedenbender’s reflections on the Feb. 13, 2023, violence that occurred at Michigan State University. It deeply affected him, as it did so many on campus and beyond.
“I was rocked,” Biedenbender said. “I was walking a couple of minutes away from the Union when it happened. I felt a lot of things, like everyone else—grief, sadness, anger, shock, disbelief—but most of all, I felt the fragility of life. Everything felt fragile and ephemeral.”
It is the longest of the three movements, leading to the final movement which, according to Biedenbender, ventures into more experimental territory, exploring the concept of time travel and bending time, blending sci-fi elements with musical narrative. Together, these three movements form a profound reflection on time’s multifaceted nature, inviting listeners to consider their relationship with the present and the eternal.
The art of writing for trumpet
At the heart of River of Time is the trumpet, an instrument that Biedenbender aimed to feature in a flattering and exhilarating way. The work, which was premiered January 12, 2024 in the Wharton Center by the Lansing Symphony Orchestra and music director Timothy Muffitt, was commissioned by trumpeter Neil Mueller who performed it at the premiere. Biedenbender set out to write a piece that would resonate with trumpeters and highlight the instrument’s vast expressive range.
“I wanted it to be the kind of piece where trumpet players hear it and think, ‘I want to play that,’” Biedenbender explained. “I want the audience to think, ‘Wow, the trumpet is such a beautiful instrument, and I didn’t know it could do that.’”
MSU student Johnny Danziger, a dual composition and music education undergraduate, studies with Biedenbender. He was not surprised to hear about this most recent award.
“Seeing Dr. Biedenbender win that award is not surprising in the slightest,” he said. “He is a nationally recognized composer, and as one of his students, I take pride in knowing my teacher is succeeding. When I have my lessons, I know that he can teach me how to do that.”
Beyond the award: A commitment to teaching and entorship
Though River of Time has brought attention to Biedenbender’s recent work, his dedication to teaching and mentorship remains central in his career. In fact, he attributes much of his success to the values he imparts to his students.
“I try to model healthy artistic practice,” Biedenbender shared. “I ask my students, ‘What do you love? What makes you excited?’ Those are the things that should guide your artistic life.”
He is an advocate for vulnerability in the creative process, regularly encouraging his students to submit their work to competitions and festivals. “What I tell my students—and try to live by myself—is to send it and forget it,” he said. “It’s a way to get your music out there, to connect with people, and to be vulnerable. Even if you don’t win, there’s value in just being heard.”
Biedenbender also speaks passionately about the need for intrinsic motivation. “You need things that get you out of bed in the morning. Awards are nice, but they’re not the point. The point is making music that excites you. That’s what I want my students to take away.”
Continuing legacy at MSU
River of Time marks Biedenbender’s second win of the Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Award. It is a personal triumph and a testament to the strength of MSU’s composition program. He noted that Professor of Composition Zhou Tian won the same award in 2022 as did MSU Music alum Andrew David Perkins in 2023. This run of three years in a row of MSU-affiliated composition wins underscores the area’s role as a national leader in music education and composition.
In looking ahead to the official performance of River of Time at the ABA Convention, Biedenbender is excited for the opportunity to share the work with a broader audience. But he emphasizes that his true joy comes from the process of creation and the connections he makes along the way.
“I write music to connect with people. That’s what keeps me going,” he said, “and I want my students to be themselves. I’m here to walk with them on their path, but at the end of the day, it’s their path.”
This story originally appeared on College of Music.