Carl Holmquist (b. 1983) is a composer, conductor, and educator based in Arlington, VA, where he is the Director of Bands at the H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program. He has degrees from St. Olaf College and George Mason University, having studied with Timothy Mahr, Mark Camphouse, Steven Amundson, and Anthony Maiello. He has composed for chamber ensembles, vocal groups, and bands of all levels, and he has received numerous commissions and awards.
One of his award winning pieces is Play!, the winner of the 2006 Claude T. Smith Memorial Composition Contest. It was originally written as the final movement of his New Orleans Symphony, and it has since been published by C. Alan as a standalone piece. With its swing feel and many (yes) playful melodies and solos, it is reminiscent of New Orleans street musicians (if they regularly changed keys and meters and naturally played in fugue with each other).
Here it is in performance by the Minnesota Symphonic Winds:
This video gives a sampling of the New Orleans street music that inspired Holmquist:
Read up on Play! at C. Alan Publications. See more about Holmquist at his website, C. Alan, and HeBu music.