Dennis A. Hawkins, Jr., conductor

As I was beginning to brainstorm ideas for Café 512, I stumbled across the title of a piece by famed Argentinean composer Astor Piazzolla called Café 1930. I found the title immediately intriguing, and in wanting to write a piece that tipped the hat heavily towards a specific style, the mood and intensity found within tango seemed to be the right fit. The similarities between Piazzolla's work and the one I was looking to write pretty much end at the title. Whereas Piazzolla's work is intimate, slow, and melancholy (as well as being a true tango), I wanted to write something more dance-like and energetic. So I changed the "1930" to "512", the area code of Austin, Texas, and used a 5+1+2 note grouping to construct the main motif throughout the work.

Ryan George graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in music education. While a student he sat principal horn for four semesters in the wind ensemble, was a drum major for the Wildcat Marching Band, and also performed with various other ensembles including the UK orchestra.

George completed his first concert commission in 2007, and since then his works have received performances at the American Bandmasters Association Convention, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, the Music For All (Bands of America) Concert Band Festival, the MidEurope Festival in Schladming Austria, Carnegie Hall, the National CBDNA Conference, the CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Conference, and multiple state music educator conferences. Ryan's music is also regularly programmed by All-State, Region, Inter-Collegiate, and Honor ensembles. His first work for advanced wind ensemble, Firefly, was recorded by the University of North Texas Wind Symphony under the direction of Eugene M. Corporon and is featured in the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series, volume 8.

As a specialist in music design for marching ensembles, Mr. George's work has been performed by some of the nation's elite ensembles at state, region, and national venues. His roster of clients hail from 14 states and include perennial Bands of America (Music for All) regional champions, regional finalist, and Grand National finalist. Within the realm of drum corps, Ryan serves as the brass arranger/composer for the Boston Crusaders from Boston Mass., and the Academy Drum & Bugle Corps from Tempe, Ariz. He was also a visual staff member for the Phantom Regiment and Carolina Crown. As a marching member Ryan performed with the 1998 DCI World Champion Cadets of Bergen County and the 1999 DCI World Champion Concord Blue Devils.

Ryan's professional affiliations include ASCAP, the American Composer's Forum, and TMEA, and he resides in Austin, Texas.

Program note and biography provided by the composer