# James Stephenson: Pillars Premiered on June 14, 2018 by the low brass section of the Minnesota Orchestra, with Osmo Vänskä, conductor. After the passing of Bill Zehfuss in 2014, the former principal trombonist of the Charleston Symphony, a group of his friends got together with an idea to bring into the world a piece of music in his memory. They reached out to another friend, composer James Stephenson, to write it. According to the composer, the title refers to Zehfuss's height ("Probably 6'8" or so") as well as the spirit of support his friends brought together, after his passing, to memorialize him in music. Composer's note: After the opening chorale, interestingly enough, the first movement employs the four soloists in unison... I recalled from my trumpet playing days how fun and rewarding it is to be part of a group of multiple people playing, but to sound like one. The 2nd movement is where I remembered Bill. It is a (quasi) Passacaglia, with some aching lines, some literal orchestral "tears", and some grit, as I was remembering how sad and angry I was when I heard the news that Bill had died. The 3rd movement is more uplifting, and has a bit of a Latin feel, because the last time I worked with Bill, when I was conducting, we did an all Latin concert. —James Stephenson