Adventurer-composer Stephen Lias’s passion for wilderness and outdoor pursuits has led to a growing series of works about the national parks of the United States. He has served as Artist-in-Residence at Rocky Mountain, Glacier, Denali, Glacier Bay, and Gates of the Arctic National Parks, and has written over a dozen park-related pieces that have been performed on concerts and recitals in such places as Colorado, Texas, Sydney, and Taiwan. He is the founder and leader of the annual “Composing in the Wilderness” field seminar offered jointly by Alaska Geographic, the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, and the National Park Service. River Runner (2009) Performed by Deb Scott (trombone) and Ron Petti (piano) In 2009 some friends and I experienced the stark beauty and physical challenges of paddling Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park. We came away with indelible memories of the remote landscape and the feelings of fear, excitement, and awe it inspired. Trombonist Deb Scott was with us on that trip, and this piece was written for her. The Ghosts of Mesa Verde (2013) Performed by Christina Guenther and Jennifer Keeney (flutes) Anyone who has ever visited the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park knows the eerie emptiness that pervades this unusual location. This piece imagines a tentative descent into an ancient kiva where the past comes to life in a vibrant and exuberant dance, then evaporates suddenly as smoke flies up the chimney and out into the night. Range of Light (2014) Performed by Nathan Nabb (saxophone) and James Pitts (piano) The grandeur of the central valley of Yosemite National Park is indelibly etched in the American consciousness (even for those who have never stood there) through the unforgettable photographs of Ansel Adams. John Muir called these mountains the “Range of Light” and Adams used that phrase as the title of his 1979 volume of Yosemite photos. Those images served as the inspiration for this piece. Hall of the White Giant (2012) Performed by Brad Meyer (marimba) One of the more strenuous and adventurous places to visit at Carlsbad Caverns National Park is the Hall of the White Giant. Far off the public walkways, this four-hour adventure is a real spelunking trip replete with muddy scrambles, exhausting climbs, clothing-ripping tight spaces, and (of course) amazing rock formations as the reward. Denali (2011) Performed by the Russian String Orchestra (formerly Chamber Orchestra Kremlin), Misha Rachlevsky, Music Director In 2011 I had the privilege of being the first composer ever to serve as Artist-in-Residence at Denali National Park. This rare opportunity to commune with nature, watch wildlife, hike the tundra, and be reminded of my own smallness was a deeply inspirational experience. I have returned every year since.