A Richer Dust, the epic First Symphony of the English composer Nigel Clarke (b. 1960), explores what it means to live with violence and extremism, the constant companions of human history. The work intertwines words collated from a wide range of sources by the writer Malene Sheppard Skærved with Clarke’s music, weaving together ideas and images in fragments of text from both historically significant figures and voiceless, ordinary people. The dark and powerful atmosphere of the Symphony is prefaced by the bright and sassy sound of Clarke’s Magritte-inspired Mysteries of the Horizon, a concerto for cornet and wind orchestra.

Harmen Vanhoorne is an international cornet soloist from Belgium who has performed all over the world. He is known as an innovator for his instrument, commissioning composers from his own country and abroad on a regular basis, expanding the repertoire and furthering the profile of the cornet.

H. Stephen Smith studied voice at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. He studied privately with Nicolai Gedda and has since alongside such artists as June Anderson, Katarina Dalayman, Renée Fleming, Hillevi Martinpelto, Tom Krause and Elisabeth Söderstrom. He joined the music faculty at Middle Tennessee State University in August 1998, where he serves as Professor of Voice.

Dr Reed Thomas is the Director of Bands and a full Professor of Music and Conducting at Middle Tennessee State University. He is an avid supporter of new music, commissioning over 40 compositions since 2003.