St Pius X Catholic High School Symphonic Band Composition Backstory

Chad Paetznick struck up a conversation with Hamilton after a (Helmet) show. “We connected through a conversation about music,” Paetznick says. “He found out I was a conductor, and we exchanged information.” Paetznick asked Hamilton to write a commissioned work for the high school’s symphonic band. Hamilton jumped at the opportunity. “I love music, and I love turning kids on to new ways of thinking — musically thinking,” Hamilton says. “Chad came to me with the idea and I said, ‘absolutely.’” Hamilton began composing a piece titled “St. Pius: Spirit Rising.” The score is written for about 25 winds with parts for flute, clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, trumpet, trombone, baritone, tuba, percussion, tubular bells, tympani, and guitar. In March, Hamilton will lead a lecture and a guitar clinic for St. Pius students and premiere the piece for a private audience. “These kids give me more than I give them,” Hamilton said after the show at the Masquerade. “They are so inquisitive and enthusiastic, and I want to show them that there are opportunities in music. They’re wondering what they’re going to do with their lives, and when it comes to music, they could be a journalist, an A&R person, a photographer, drum tech, concert performer, a member of an orchestra, a composer, you can write for film, you can play on films. With music, if you do it with your heart, you can do anything you want to do.” - Creative Loafing

I’ve been commissioned to write a concert piece for the Christian Brother’s High School in Memphis, TN for their 150th Anniversary concert, the oldest High School Orchestra in the country!” - PH