Blue Aster Music
Our Mission
Blue Aster Music was founded in March of 2021 to give both new and veteran composers a voice and a place to feature their music for solo and small chamber ensemble. We aim to lift up LGBTQ+, women, and BIPOC composers.
The Blue HORYZIN Mission
Blue Aster Music is an active partner with HORYZIN Music and aims to:
Promote and grow Music Education in the US and the world
Provide a nurturing community for music to help new and experienced members of the community alike
Bolster classical music repertoire in weak areas to make music more accessible
Foster a newfound love of classical music
Inspire the next generation of musicians
Blue HORYZIN: At the Heart of Music
Meet the Team!
Noah Gorman
Founder, Co-Owner, Composer
N. M. Gorman (NAfME, PAS, KKΨ) is an energetic, prolific composer from West Bloomfield, Michigan. He has written numerous works for wind ensemble, percussion ensemble, and jazz ensemble. Gorman studied as a percussionist to earn his Bachelor of Music Education at Eastern Michigan University under the percussion direction of Professor John Dorsey, and the compositional direction of Dr. Whitney Prince and Professor Jason Ihnat. Gorman has experience performing with groups such as the Eastern Michigan Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Red Wings Drumline, Evergreen A Cappella, and Zenith Brass, and currently serves as the choir director at Ypsilanti Community High School. Gorman’s large ensemble music can be found at https://www.horyzinmusic.com/classical/nmgorman/.
Favorite Instrument(s)/Ensemble(s) to compose for:
Percussion Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble
Cover Color: BAM Blue
Orynn Murphy
Co-Owner, Social Media Manager, Composer
Orynn (b. January 28, 2002) currently attends Jacksonville State University, pursuing a degree in music education with a primary focus in percussion. From the time she was in high school, Orynn knew she wanted to write music, and after years of arranging and making little compositions for her YouTube channel, Orynn entered and won a composition competition for the GMEA music conference in the beginning of 2020. This, along with the support of friends and family encouraged her to continue writing. Orynn has played vibraphone for two WGI groups spanning three years, 2 bronze medals and a finalist patch. In 2019, Orynn auditioned and was contracted with Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2020 season, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic lasting into 2021, decided to withdraw. Orynn currently plays marimba for the Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners Front Ensemble, the Cockpit.
Favorite Instrument(s)/Ensemble(s) to compose for:
Solo Marimba
Cover Color: Percussive Pink
Brant Blackard
Composer
Dr. Brant Blackard is an active performer, educator, composer and arranger. His arrangements of classical repertoire for percussion ensemble have been performed at institutions such as the University of Michigan and the Eastman School of Music while his original compositions have had recent premieres at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Missouri University, Virginia Tech University, and the University of North Florida.
Brant has performed internationally as a soloist and with chamber groups such as the Alla Ballena Ensemble and the Zohn Collective. His recent solo performances include performances in Guanajuato and Mexico City, Mexico. As part of the Frozen Earth Duo with Connor Stevens, he has toured extensively, performing and presenting at the Ontario PAS Day of Percussion and the Leigh Howard Stevens Marimba Seminar. Brant has also retained his love of metal drumming and continues to play regularly.
Brant Blackard received his DMA and MM Degrees from the Eastman School of Music along with the prestigious Performer’s Certificate and Milton Schlesinger Prize, and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance and Literature from the University of Central Arkansas. He is currently on faculty at Jacksonville State University.
Brant is an endorser and performing artist of Malletech instruments and mallets.
Rebecca Bloodsworth
Composer
Rebecca Elizabeth Bloodsworth was born and raised in Franklin, Georgia. She found herself interested in music at a very young age, and being in a house of many for most of her life helped music to become an escape. Her composition and arranging journey began in her sophomore year of high school, and she hasn’t stopped since. Rebecca is a vocal education major at Jacksonville State University, as well as a member of The Marching Southerners Trombone Line.
Favorite Instrument(s)/Ensemble(s) to compose for:
Choir and Wind Ensemble
Cover Color: Pitch Perfect Purple
Alphonso Gonzalez III
Composer
Alphonso Gonzalez is a percussionist, composer, and educator based in New Jersey. Alphonso received his Bachelor's degree in music composition in 2020 and is currently working on his Master's degree in percussion performance at Rowan University under the direction of Dr. Fabio Oliveira. Alphonso has performed with a number of the university's ensembles including the Percussion Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Contemporary Music Ensemble, Rowan Brass Band, and Atlantic Brass Band. As an educator, Alphonso is the assistant director for both the Pep Band and Indoor Winds programs at Cumberland Regional High School. Prior to that, Alphonso has also taught marching band front ensembles at Pitman High School and Timber Creek High School and worked as an intern for "Play On, Philly". As a percussionist and composer, Alphonso is heavily influenced by music from other cultures such as Middle Eastern music, Latin American music, and Brazilian Samba and aims to create a unique fusion of these styles in his compositions.
Favorite Instrument(s)/Ensemble(s) to compose for:
Percussion Ensemble and World Percussion
Cover Color: Rubato Red
If you would like to commission a work from any of the composers at Blue Aster Music, click here!