I've always been fascinated by sound. Maybe that’s why in the fourth grade I signed up for percussion knowing I would get to make lots of sounds. This fascination would grow into my formal study of music, first in jazz, then classical music, and eventually a wide variety of styles. I didn't realize it at the time, but growing up in Hyde Park, New York and then South Florida allowed me to hear and experience a deep diversity of music and people. This wide mixture proved to be fundamental to my future as a composer.

After graduating from Northern Illinois University I began a gradual transition from performing to composing. More study at the University of Miami and the University of Texas at Austin led to realizing my own compositional voice and artistic values. Studying with composer Michael Colgrass also proved to be life changing in terms of craft and expanding what I thought was possible. Over time, I've noticed my reliance on structure, rhythmic energy, lyricism, and harmonic color that all strive to communicate the expression "the good, the true, and the beautiful". And while I understand that "beautiful" doesn't have to mean pretty and "true" can embrace ambiguities, this has been my working creative approach throughout these works. I think it represents a broad expressionism in the pursuit of wonder and mystery.

My hope is to continue to write music that has something to say, is thought-provoking, and reflects the human experience in all its diversity. I hope you find music here that speaks to you. It's been quite a journey from where I began.
~ James Syler

Join the New Chamber Winds & Soprano Consortium

TO JOIN: https://jamessyler.samcart.com/products/silent-shadows-chamber-winds-consortium

Thank you for considering this consortium for the making of a chamber winds version of Silent Shadows to the Last: Three Walt Whitman Poems for Chamber Winds and Soprano. The original band work with soprano is a setting of three classic Walt Whitman poems. This version for chamber winds and soprano will accentuate the lean chamber wind sonorities and lyrical style of the work. There aren't many chamber winds works with soprano that are also at an accessible grade 3/4 level. This work will also be a good option for conducting students, chamber concerts, as well as full band concerts.

Consortium Fee: $250. by credit card or PayPal. 
Instrumentation: 2 Fl, 2 Ob, 2 Bb Cl, 2 Hrn, 2 Bsn, String Bass (opt. Cbsn, Bb CbCl, Bari. Sax)
Duration: 9 minutes. This will be a chamber winds version of the band work completed in 2018. 
Delivery: Digital score & parts delivered by October 1, 2026.
Premieres: The first premiere will be by the San Antonio Harmonie Ensemble in early Fall 2026, conducted by consortium leader Dr. Brett Richardson. Your premiere performance exclusivity will run from Nov. 1, 2026 to Sept. 30. 2027.

If you have any questions please contact Dr. Brett Richardson at brichardson@tlu.edu. Thank You!