09/13/2025
BIG, BIG, BIG News!
I am OVER THE MOON excited and proud to announce that my SYMPHONY NO.1: A GHOST STORY has been awarded 3rd place in the American Prize for Composition.
My music has never placed in a composition competition.
NEVER.
It is especially meaningful to me that this particular work was selected, as I feel it represents the best writing of my career thus far, and touches on themes that are very important to me, such as love, memory, loss, and life.
You have to understand that I had long ago, convinced myself that my music would probably never be recognized in such a capacity. Here are some of the things that have been said to me during the course of my career:
-"There are already too many band composers; you should probably find something else to do." (a band editor at a publishing company)
-"Your music's too commercial to be taken seriously." (a conductor at a well-known music college)
-"Listen to what the current composition darlings are composing. Try to be more like them." (a fellow composer)
-"You're just a flavor of the month." (a middle school director on Facebook)
-"No one will ever play your advanced music." (a band editor at a publishing company).
Needless to say, I have ignored all these barbs but they definitely left their mark. If you crumple up a piece of paper, you can straighten it back out, but it will still carry all of the wrinkles after all. 
I want to thank Dr Tom O’Connor and Dr. Tim Crist, my composition professor is at Arkansas State University for their excellent guidance and mentorship as I was becoming a composer.
 I also want to thank Dr. Derek Jenkins for agreeing to give me lessons while I was writing the symphony, and allowing me to balance ideas off of him. His input was invaluable in the final form of the piece.
I have also been extremely fortunate to work with several publishing editors who helped guide and refine my style: Walter Cummings, Brian Balmages, Ron Allen, Robert Sheldon, and Joseph Snyder.
Lastly, I want to thank my husband, Steven Cazort. Many of you don’t see it, but behind the scenes, he has made a life for me in which I am able to do what I do. He has been patient, sacrifice so much, and allowed me to be the creative person that I am without judgment and with unconditional love and support. I love you, baby.
I almost feel like this puts a book end on everything. I have been trying to achieve up to this point in my career. So the question is, where do we go from here?
A Symphony No. 2, consortium anyone?
Thank you again to everyone for supporting my music, I want you to know that I never take it for granted, and every time I see any well wishes, messages about my music, or just virtual pets on the back, they make me very, very happy that I decided not to do “something else.”
Peace Love and Music - Randy Standy
