Composer Peter Hamlin, a Professor of Music and Music Dept. Chair at Middlebury College in Vermont, is in the process of composing “It’s not every day that you get to be part of a world premiere,” said Rob

Freelove, director of the

Pillager High School Band. “We’re really excited about

this opportunity.”

Recently, the band performed the first two movements of “Pillager Suite,” a new piece of music that was inspired by Pillager students and written specifi cally for their school.

It was the first time the piece had been performed. Anywhere.

The composer of “Pillager Suite” is Peter Hamlin, Music Professor and the Music Department Chair at Middlebury College in Vermont.

Hamlin first became acquainted with the Pillager school through Freelove, who was a student of his when he taught music at St. Olaf College in Northfield.

“He was my theory professor and my wife Anne’s advisor,” Freelove shared recently. “It’s a real honor to be working with him in this capacity.”

Rehearsing Director Rob Freelove worked with members of the Pillager High School Band during a recent rehearsal at the school. On May 3, the band performed the world premiere of The east coast professor said he was really impressed with how well his former student was doing with the music program at Pillager and asked if he could write a piece for them.

“Rob asked the kids what they liked about the area and they wrote some really great comments about their favorite spots,” Hamlin said, via e-mail. “I selected four of them: Lake Placid, Gull Lake, Pillager Dam and Crow Wing River.”

Many of the students’ comments had to do with childhood memories, recalled Freelove. “One girl talked about her grandparents’ place on Lake Placid. She mentioned swimming, boating, fishing. Another wrote about cross country skiing on Gull Lake.”

Although he has not been to Pillager, Hamlin lived in Minnesota for 12 years and said he really loves the area.

He is now back in Vermont - both he and his wife are alumni of Middlebury College. “We love lake activities here, too, so this piece was a lot of fun to write,” Hamlin said.

It’s a composition that paints a clear picture of Minnesota lakes and rivers, Freelove said.

The first movement refl ects the sense of play associated with a summer spent at a lake cabin, Freelove said. The second, he continued, “...has a lot of blocky chords. It sounds very winteresque.”

A few seniors from the PHS band shared their thoughts on being part of the premiere of “Pillager Suite.”

“It was an amazing experience,” said Dalton Mc- Clain, an alto sax player. Trumpet player Dan Kozitza agreed. “It was a neat thing to be a part of,” Dan added.

Matthew Nelson, a snare drum player in the band, said he believes “Pillager

Suite” is one of the hardest

pieces he’s ever played. “We started rehearsing

right after Christmas and have been working really hard on it,” Matthew said.

Hamlin said he had hoped to have all four movements completed before the band concert May 3; but only had time to finish two.

“I hope to finish the other two as soon as my classes (at Middlebury College) end,” Hamlin said.

Freelove plans to have the band perform the final two movements of Hamlin’s piece sometime next fall.

Although he has not heard them play in person, Hamlin said he has listened to rehearsal recordings of the Pillager band. “They’re amazing,” he shared. “The community should be really proud of them.”

In his 10 years of teaching music at Pillager School, Freelove said this experience has definitely been a highlight of his career.

“It usually costs a lot of money to have a song commissioned for your music group,” Freelove said. “This is a really special gift.”