Prelude to a Fair

This piece was begun in 1986 but not completed until 2009. It reflects my early compositional style which was quite tonal. The piece is a tone poem about my childhood experiences of going to the county fair. Its themes evoke images of my favorite animals, rides, games, and foods. It is dedicated to the Tulare County Fair (California). The piece was premiered by the Hardin-Simmons University Orchestra under the direction of Bernie Scherr.