2024 was a banner year for Composing in the Wilderness with new housing and meal options and a terrific new partnership with the Denali Education Center. Our wonderful performers brought all eight pieces to life with intensity and nuance, and the composers each had a life-changing creative adventure. Favorite moments and quotes below, as well as audio from the performance (videos coming soon).
THE COMPOSERS:
This is a truly unique experience that will only exceed your expectations. I came to Alaska for the first time for CITW and feel like I found a second home through the time we spent with the mountains in Denali.
FAVORITE MOMENT: Riding in the summer sled with the dogs at the Denali sled dog kennel!
FAVORITE MOMENTS: Rolling down Cathedral Mountain. Teklanika River at sunset.
What a magical experience Composing in the Wilderness is. Connecting so intimately with such a beautiful wilderness in the heart of Alaska with our CITW family has been one of the best (if not the best) composition experience I've had to date. After growing up in the DFW suburbs, I've longed to reconnect with nature and our natural environment in a way that is deeply meaningful to my life and artistic practice, and Stephen does a great job of making this a profound experience for all involved - would highly recommend!
FAVORITE MOMENT: Cathedral Mountain! Denali State Park! DAVID BETCHKAL!!!!, reconnecting with Steph Lias :)
I knew Composing in the Wilderness would be a perfect combination of my passions for music and biology, but it was also a journey of discovery. With so many things to celebrate, I’ll just say this: I depart the program with a renewed commitment to life. Sadly, I can’t spend every day in Alaska with Steve and new friends. What I’ll do instead is spend every day pursuing the same passion for my art, warm community, and spirit of adventure that I experienced during these transformative two weeks. If I’m even half successful, I’ll live a deeply fulfilling life.
Composing in the Wilderness was an experience full of life and wonder! I have never felt so alive and happy creating my own path along the wilderness and experiencing nature at its fullest. I learnt so much about the wilderness of Denali and myself through this trip while connecting with others. I have a new found appreciation for nature and I am very grateful to the CITW team for reigniting the passion inside of me.
FAVORITE MOMENTS: Grizzly bear! Finally seeing a moose, all the crazy amounts of food, making great friendships, of course being in the wilderness.
Experiencing Alaska's beautiful and magnificent nature makes me harmonious and reminds me of the intricate and delicate web which we are all a part of. I feel deeply grateful for these experiences. Thank you Stephen for sharing your love for this wonderful place with us!
FAVORITE MOMENTS: The hike up Cathedral Mountain, the spectacular view there and then the bear encounter!!!
I don't think it was a surprise to anyone that I fit right into Alaska and loved everything Denali has to offer in abundance. However, Composing in the Wilderness was an amazing surprise as it presented unexpected opportunities to learn, chances to grow as a musician, and unforgettable fellowship. I left inspired about my craft and already planning my next adventure in the wild.
FAVORITE MOMENTS: the search for animals, talking to Davyd, midnight at the Teklanika, eating mountain berries, Labrador tea.
Sam Alden Phelps
This program was unlike anything I've ever done before. Our time in the backcountry was breathtaking -- truly an experience I'll treasure for the rest of my life. The composing was very difficult for me on such a tight timescale but it turned out well in the end and everyone was understanding and supportive. Hearing my work realized by Corvus was likewise a special experience. It was a particular privilege to be a part of the concert in Denali National Park where the atmosphere was really special.
FAVORITE MOMENTS: Just about every moment of our Cathedral Mountain hike was a favorite moment (even, or maybe especially, our bear encounter).
