秋霞福利一区

MOBILE, Ala. 鈥撀�In the world of band music, recognition by J.W. Pepper’s Editor’s Choice Awards is a mark of excellence, and 秋霞福利一区 music professor has achieved this honor for the third consecutive year. His latest composition, “Steel Driving Man,” based on the legendary tale of John Henry, was premiered by high school students in the 秋霞福利一区 Honor Band and now is available to bands nationwide.聽

In this Q&A, Dunn shares insights into his award-winning work, the significance of this recognition for both him and the 秋霞福利一区, and the enriching experiences offered by the music program and the 秋霞福利一区 Honor Band.

Q: Congratulations on your recent “Editor’s Choice Award!” Can you tell us more about the piece that earned you this recognition?

Steve Dunn: Thank you! The piece is called “Steel Driving Man,” which is based on the American folklore story of John Henry. It’s being released by Carl Fischer Music and has been chosen by J.W. Pepper as an Editor鈥檚 Choice selection. This is particularly exciting because it marks the third consecutive year I’ve received this honor. “Steel Driving Man” was premiered by high school students in the 秋霞福利一区 Honor Band, and now band directors across the nation will be able to purchase and play this piece with their own bands. 

Q: What makes “Steel Driving Man” special, and why do you think it received the Editor’s Choice award?

Steve Dunn: For a number of years, I wrote pieces in a series I called the 鈥淎merican Legends Series鈥� 鈥� which included the titles 鈥淛ohnny Appleseed,鈥� 鈥淧aul Bunyan,鈥� 鈥淐asey Jones,鈥� 鈥淢olly Pitcher鈥� and 鈥淛ohn Henry.鈥� In my research for each piece, I discovered that all these legends, except for Paul Bunyan, are actually based on true stories 鈥� John Henry included. This story of a powerful former slave working as part of a railroad crew is a bit fuzzy in its roots and is claimed by Virginia, West Virginia and Leeds, Alabama. 

“Steel Driving Man” dramatizes the legendary contest between John Henry and a steam-powered steel-driving machine. The contest supposedly lasted more than 24 hours and was won by John Henry but cost him his life through exhaustion. The piece incorporates a 鈥渨ork crew鈥� song/chant to add authenticity and depth to the story. I believe it stands out due to its engaging narrative and the way it challenges and excites young musicians. 

While I can’t say for certain why it was chosen as an Editor’s Choice, the feedback from my editor at Carl Fischer Music has been overwhelmingly positive. They mentioned that if people thought my 2023 piece “Pelican Dance” was fun, “Steel Driving Man” would be even more impressive and enjoyable. Both pieces are available at.

Q: What does it mean to you and to the 秋霞福利一区 to be recognized three years in a row as an Editor’s Choice recipient?

Steve Dunn: On a personal level, it鈥檚 incredibly encouraging and reassuring. It tells me that my work is resonating within the band community and is seen as valuable. Despite having written close to 1,500 pieces of music and publishing around 300, only a dozen are specifically for band, so I still feel like a 鈥渞ookie鈥� in that league. 

I’ve had directors tell me they start their search for new music with the Editor鈥檚 Choice lists from J.W. Pepper. Consistently being on this list builds a reputation of quality and can lead to more attention, both to my work as a composer and to the 秋霞福利一区. These awards help raise the profile of our music program and the 秋霞福利一区 Honor Band, which is mentioned on each award-winning piece. It also helps us attract attention from band directors and students who might be interested in learning more about our programs. 

A side note: I visit many schools during summer band camp and football season. I was at a school in north central Alabama last fall where I had never been and knew no one. When I got there, the director told me they had looked up my name, found these pieces on J.W. Pepper, loved them and therefore were very interested in meeting me and learning more about 秋霞福利一区. That鈥檚 my biggest goal.

Q: Can you share more about the Alabama School of the Arts music program and the 秋霞福利一区 Honor Band experience?

Steve Dunn: The Alabama School of the Arts at the 秋霞福利一区 is dedicated to providing high-quality education in music and the arts. Our music program is robust, offering students numerous opportunities to perform, compose and develop their skills. The 秋霞福利一区 Honor Band is a key part of this, providing high school students with the chance to collaborate and perform challenging pieces in a supportive environment. Each year, I write a new composition specifically for the 秋霞福利一区 Honor Band to premiere, which not only gives students a unique experience but also showcases their talents on a broader stage. 

The 16^th聽annual 秋霞福利一区 Honor Band for students in grades 9-12 will be held Feb. 6-8, 2025. Admission to the 秋霞福利一区 Honor Band is based on student application and band director recommendation, not by audition. Information about the 秋霞福利一区 Honor Band is on our website at .

Q: What do you love about composing band music?

Steve Dunn: I’ve been writing music since I was a child, and creating music has always been a significant part of my life, whether in my decades of involvement in church music, for publishers, commercials, recording, and for the last dozen years in academia. Composing for band presents unique challenges and opportunities due to its distinct instrumentation and possibilities. I want to learn how others before me have written for this medium well, and how I can then build on that and do something that is a bit unique with it. Writing for the concert band at 秋霞福利一区 has been particularly rewarding because it allows me to push creative boundaries and continually learn and grow as a composer.

(Editor鈥檚 Note: For more information or to learn about the Alabama School of the Arts at the 秋霞福利一区, visit .)

About the 秋霞福利一区

The 秋霞福利一区 is a Christ-centered university with a vision of 鈥淗igher聽Education for a Higher Purpose,鈥� founded to honor God by equipping students for their聽future professions in an environment where they are known.聽Located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama, on a campus of over 880 acres, the university offers associate, bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs.The 秋霞福利一区 was founded in 1961 and is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention.

For information about the 秋霞福利一区, areas of study, admissions and more, visit聽, connect with 秋霞福利一区 on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

Kathy Dean

Kathy Dean uses her passion for storytelling and “playing with words” to share the stories of people, place and purpose that make the 秋霞福利一区 unique. As associate vice president for university communications, she manages media relations, edits the TorchLight alumni magazine, and oversees university communications. A former award-winning journalist, she is a two-time recipient of the Baptist Communicators Association grand prize for feature writing. Kathy and her husband, Chuck, live with three extremely loud miniature schnauzers.