Encouraged is a heartwarming and lyrical composition which sets Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem of the same name. The piece’s journey began as a tenor art song commissioned by Wesley Vaughn, a dear friend of mine from my undergraduate years at Texas Christian University. He wanted to have a piece that expressed his gratitude to his friends, mentors, and especially his family for all their support, and when he sent Dunbar’s poem over to me, I thought it was perfect. On April 15, 2023, Wesley closed his senior recital with a premiere of Encouraged, dedicating the performance to his family.

If there is a person who embodies the characteristic of “resilience,“ it is Wesley. When writing this choral setting of the piece, I wanted to honor him and give the piece more avenues to be performed. My hope is that choirs will sing this piece and share they appreciation and love to their friends, mentors, family, and all those who support us in our daily lives.