Wildstride is a two-minute musical sprint- a burst of endorphins and exhilaration like the rush of running at full speed.
Written for the North Georgia Youth Wind Symphony, the piece draws inspiration from my own experiences vacationing in the North Georgia mountains. I often find that hikes and nature runs offer me ever-changing views and vast amounts of inspiration. The themes are each rooted in the Lydian mode, which adds an additional sense of lift and optimism to the work.
The work begins with a bright brass fanfare answered by playful woodwind figures in a triplet feel. A driving sixteenth-note ostinato emerges that brings attention to the woodwinds as an intentional departure from a typical brass-heavy fanfare. Brief interjections create spontaneity before giving way to a fast yet lighthearted middle section, building to a climactic convergence of all the rhythmic ideas.

Wildstride was commissioned by the North Georgia Youth Wind Symphony in commemoration of their performance at the 2026 Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference under the artistic direction of Dennis L. Naughton.