Tommy Cowan ('24) is a skilled musician and active member of Darlington's band. His most recent project, an arrangement of "O Holy Night," was performed by the band at the Traditions of Christmas concert this past December. Hear more from Tommy in his interview below.
What do you like the most about the design process?
I really like the freedom it gives you to really see your artistic vision as something amazing. I’ve been really, really grateful to be able to write music for the band, because in the past, we’ve had to work our way around arrangements that aren't very suited for our band, so being able to write for each person and knowing what their playing ability is has given people a chance to have the spotlight.
What do you look to for inspiration?
I look to a lot of different composers. John Williams is one of my favorites.
What is the most challenging part of designing in your world?
Stamina, because the design process for writing music for multiple parts takes a long time, and that definitely requires a lot of energy.
What experiences have you had as a result of working through this design process with projects at Darlington or how has it benefited you?
It’s made my experience in the band much more fun and it’s really helped me grow as a musician.
