Cait Nishimura (b. 1991) is a Canadian composer based in Waterloo, Ontario. She was also an instrumental music educator before committing herself to composing full time. She has written for many genres, including chamber and choral works, often inspired by her love of nature and the outdoors. She rose to prominence in the wind band world thanks to her win in the 2017 Canadian Band Association Composition Competition for Chasing Sunlight. She is also the co-host, with Dylan Maddix, of the Band Room Podcast. See more about her at her website, the Association of Canadian Women Composers, and the Wind Repertory Project.
Nishimura wrote Wilderness in 2021 for the 75th Midwest Clinic. Her program notes follow:
My fascination with the natural world began in childhood, and it wasn’t long before I learned about the harmful impacts of human activity on the environment. Old growth forests and essential ecosystems like wetlands were being replaced by housing developments and highways. As a child, I felt helpless about it all; now, as an adult, I know that there is so much we can all do to be part of the solution. Sometimes, we just need to feel empowered first, and I believe art is one of the most effective ways to inspire others.
This piece was commissioned by the Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic in celebration of their 75th anniversary. Wilderness celebrates and honours Earth’s remaining wild spaces and the people who fight to protect them. Through this music, I explore the range of emotions I experience as an environmentalist, and I express my gratitude for all that nature has given me. This piece is a call-to-action for all of us to do our part in spreading awareness about climate change, to reflect on our relationship with nature, and to deepen our respect for the stewards of this land.
Wilderness as performed at the Midwest Clinic with a score to follow along:
To dig deeper on this piece, visit Nishimura’s website, her store, Murphy Music Press, and J. W. Pepper. You can also follow the score at your own pace at Yumpu.