Harrison J. Collins (she/he/they, b. 1999) is a prolific composer of instrumental music, especially for wind band. Growing up in Texas, she found a home in band playing bassoon and bass clarinet, and won the John Philip Sousa Award in high school after serving as a drum major for two years. He developed an early interest in composition, leading to study at Illinois State University and Texas Christian University, where his important teachers included Roy Magnuson, Roger Zare, Neil Anderson-Himmelspach, and Martin Blessinger. Collins’s music received early attention with performances in 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and the Midwest Clinic of O rose of May, when they were just 18 years old. Since then, they have written and published (through their own company, J Stands for Joe Music) dozens more pieces, including a symphony for band, collecting numerous awards along the way. She has also found connections with other composers through the Millennium Composers Initiative and the Aurora Tapestry Collective. Learn more about Collins at his website, the Millennium Composers Initiative, the Wind Repertory Project, and Ars Nova Press.
Collins wrote An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles in 2026 for consortium of bands and individuals. (Full disclosure: myself and Hartwick College are among the commissioners.) Their program note (to which I have added links) tells all:
There is a story of somewhat dubious verifiability that tells of a group of theologians asking geneticist/biologist J. B. S. Haldane—an atheist—what he might conclude about God’s work based on his research. Haldane supposedly remarked in response “an inordinate fondness for beetles“. Indeed, there are more variants of the beetle than any other insect, and insects are the most bountiful animals on Earth. Questions of theism aside, one can marvel either way—at the impressive and unparalleled evolution of beetles, and/or at the love and admiration required of a divine creator to dedicate so much to the beetle. This divertimento for band accepts all possible angles and celebrates the numerous variants of this tiny, plentiful creature in five movements.
I. Dung Beetle
Not only do dung beetles roll balls of dung; they are also known to fight others of their species over said dung.II. Ladybug
Numerous cultures hold the ladybug in high regard. In European folklore, they are said to touch a person and then fly to their soulmate.III. Jewel Beetle
The jewel beetle’s iridescent glimmer makes them a beautiful sight to behold.IV. Giraffe Weevil
Giraffe weevils are maybe the goofiest looking creatures I’ve personally ever laid eyes on. I love themdearly.V. Hercules Beetle
Hercules beetles are extraordinarily strong and some of the largest insects. Like their namesake, they are a true symbol of power.
There is more info on this piece at the Wind Repertory Project. Since we are early in the consortium process, no recording of An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles yet exists. This presents a perfect opportunity to fill this space with videos of beetles. Enjoy!