JoAnne Harris (b. 1984) is an American composer, arranger, conductor, and educator based in New York City. She credits “her father’s very diverse record collection” for giving her the broad musical tastes that are now reflected in her career. She has written and orchestrated music for film, television, several types of theater, and the concert stage. Her concert music has earned her awards (Dallas Winds fanfare competition) and commissions (Massachusetts Tri-State Community Band), as well as performances around the country. For more on her particulars, visit her IMDB page and her website. You can also hear her talk at length about her career on The Other 50% podcast and the Band Room Podcast.

Harris wrote Dawn Chorus in 2019 as a companion piece to Igor Stravinsky’s Octet for Winds. She provides the program notes, from her score:

The title Dawn Chorus comes from a work by Scottish poet Sasha Dugdale.

(excerpt)

…I have woken to the dawn chorus
And even before it sounded, I dreamed of it Loud, unbelievably loud, shameless, raucous

My favorite time to compose is on “borrowed time”; very early in the morning. I like to take the day’s first coffee break on my roof in Jersey City, watching the sunrise over the Hudson. This summer, I’ve added a new procrasti – errr – hobby – to this routine: bird watching! I’d been somewhat patiently ignoring their dawn-breaking announcements until one day the cacophony from the tree on my corner became irrepressible. Annoyed, I got up from my desk to close the window but stopped; captivated by the sound of one wren delivering earnest triplets against the short, cloying barks of her tree mates. This piece took shape from that moment, with intent to honor Stravinsky’s octet, it’s own chattering declarations so convivial you can’t help but stop what you’re doing and listen.

Dawn Chorus has been recorded on a Mark Records album, conducted by Andy Pease (yes, that’s me). Here it is:

Dawn Chorus was commissioned by Andy Pease (me again) and Hartwick College, along with a consortium of other organizations:

Joseph Higgins, Rowan University • Cynthia Johnston-Turner, University of Georgia • Frank Tracz, Kansas State University • Catharine Sinon Bushman, St. Cloud State University • Leah McGray, SUNY Geneseo • Archie “Chip” Birkner, University of Florida • Cassandra Bechard, University of Dubuque • Sarah Fernandez, Manhattan Wind Ensemble • Chad Nicholson, University of Arizona