Richard Cormier in a rehearsal for the commissioned work.
When GPS celebrated its Centennial in 2005-06, the late Richard Cormier, a frequent director and guest artist of the GPS orchestra under Conductor Mary Baxter, conceived of a project that would put GPS on the music map. With the support of the school’s leaders, Ms. Baxter contacted local composer Christopher Tew and commissioned him to compose a string orchestra work based on his observations and experiences during visits to the school and conversations with students.
The finished GPS Suite, a four-movement work – Prelude and Allegro, Preghiera (prayer), Alumnae Waltz, and Loose Canons – was premiered at a GPS Centennial Celebration Concert in November, 2005, and since then has been sent by Ms. Baxter to major publishers. In early October, she was contacted by the composer, who shared a link to the first movement as recorded by the Bratislava Symphony in 2013.
“There is still some work to do on all the pieces,” says the composer, “but working with the musicians in Bratislava has been delightful and rewarding. Next spring we will get the glitches worked out and have enough material to make a second CD.”
The orchestra in Bratislava, the capital of the Slovak Republic, records film, pop, and symphonic recordings.
"With this publicity and recording in hand, the publishing prospects look brighter.” says Ms. Baxter.