FSU's Department of Music, Theatre and Dance Presents Composer Martin Harden II’s Senior Recital: “Changing of the Seasons”

FSU's Department of Music, Theatre and Dance Presents Composer Martin Harden II's Senior Recital: "Changing of the Seasons"

Apr 16, 2026 8:00 AM

Frostburg State University's Department of Music, Theatre and Dance is pleased to announce the senior composition recital of Martin Harden II, titled "Changing of the Seasons." The performance will take place on Saturday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU's Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. The recital is free and open to the public and will also be live-streamed; viewers can access the stream via the link at https://www.frostburg.edu/concerts.

The recital presents works composed by Martin Harden II (born 2003), a senior pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Music. Drawing on his synesthesia, Harden explores the concept of "color space" in each piece, assigning specific color palettes to the changing seasons while incorporating inspiration from video game and movie original soundtracks (OSTs) that have been meaningful to him since childhood.

The program opens with "Withering Winter", performed by Martin Harden II (trumpet), Doug Holtz (tuba), Zach Inglish (bass trombone), and Gwen Fazenbaker (alto saxophone). It is an intimate chamber arrangement derived from his earlier wind band piece "The Withering Tree," blending that original melody with new chord progressions and countermelody. Next on the program, "The End of Spring," his most recent work, evolved from a planned short movement into a ten-minute polytonal exploration of his struggles masking complex emotions during a challenging college semester. It will be performed by an ensemble of guest artists, including Susan Zoller, flute; Dr. Brent Weber, soprano saxophone; Lucas Lusby, clarinet; Daniel Coughenour, French horn; Joseph Orr, trumpet; Alex Frye, euphonium; and Sam White, piano.

Performed by the same guest artist ensemble, Harden's "Hollow Summer" emerged from personal loss and grief following the passing of three family members, ultimately evoking the emotional landscape from that summer. "I was in such an emotionally shut down place…, so instead of trying to plan anything [compositionally], I just started sketching how I felt in the moment, and most importantly, how I felt in the summer."

The closing piece, "Autumn Everlasting", also performed by the guest artist ensemble, holds particular significance as the piece that helped Harden discover his compositional voice while processing the loss of his childhood dog Austin, which also awoke the loss of childhood. "I decided to turn to music in hopes of immortalizing the memory of both Austin and the feeling of childlike joy that I thought was lost to time…. Through the process of composing, I was able to reconnect with those happy memories…. What initially started as me trying to immortalize the past so I'd never forget it, ended with the past reminding me to not give up on the present."

Harden studies composition with Dr. Mackenzie Jacob LaMont and trumpet with Dr. Donald Albrecht. He previously studied trumpet with Dr. Luke Spence and with Kevin Lewis, his high school music instructor at Frederick High School, where he graduated in May 2021. A Dean's List student, Harden is the son of Martin and Tammy Harden of Frederick, Md. He anticipates graduating in August 2026 and plans to pursue a career in media composition for film and video games.

For more information, contact the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance at [email protected] or visit music.frostburg.edu.