Introduction
“...no composer has been more synonymous
with our national parks than Stephen Lias.”
– Fred Child, Performance Today
Introduction
“...no composer has been more synonymous
with our national parks than Stephen Lias.”
– Fred Child, Performance Today
“Stephen Lias creates music that captures and translates a sense of place—both the physical qualities of a landscape and the emotional feelings evoked from experiences in wild places. His compositions are complex, rich, and inspiring.”
“...great melodic and rhythmic momentum...”
“... immediate appeal and is brimming with lyricism.”
“...a gorgeous sound world that flows with inspired melody...”
CONNECT WITH STEPHEN LIAS:
“...a well crafted and skillfully designed piece that features strong contrasts and great musical drama, woven into an effective orchestral score.”
“Lias’ harmonies are perfectly judged, just the right amount of spice.”
Stephen Lias is represented by Black Tea Music.
His music is published by Alias Press and distributed worldwide by Theodore Presser.
About
ABOUT STEPHEN LIAS
About
ABOUT STEPHEN LIAS
Adventurer-composer Stephen Lias writes music with a strong sense of place and an instinct for drama. His internationally performed orchestral and chamber works draw listeners into worlds shaped by wilderness, literature, theater, and firsthand discovery. Whether exploring a vast mountain landscape or the intricate textures of tundra, he approaches composition as an invitation to experience something extraordinary.
Recent highlights include the Boulder Philharmonic’s 2025 premiere of Wind, Water, Sand and two 2026 premieres: It Stands Alone with the Auburn Symphony and Concerto for Chamber Orchestra with the Fenimore Chamber Orchestra. Mount Rainier National Park’s first official Composer in Residence, Lias has also held residencies at parks including Denali, Glacier, Gates of the Arctic, and Rocky Mountain.
Lias founded and leads Composing in the Wilderness, bringing composers into Alaska’s landscapes to inspire new music. He previously spent eleven years as Composer in Residence and Music Director at the Texas Shakespeare Festival. Based in Nacogdoches, Texas, he is Professor of Composition at Stephen F. Austin State University. His music is published by Alias Press and distributed worldwide by Theodore Presser. He is represented exclusively by Black Tea Music.
Current and recent Projects:
Composer in Residence for Mount Rainier National Park. Resulting work, It Stands Alone, premiered by the Auburn Symphony in March, 2026.
Concerto for Chamber Orchestra commissioned by the Fenimore Chamber Orchestra. Premiere in June, 2026.
New flute work “Orbital” completed for flutist Marie Bennett.
Upcoming consortium commission led by the Auburn Symphony – The Salish Sea. Orchestras wishing to join the consortium can contact Black Tea Music.
Activities
ACTIVITIES
Activities
ACTIVITIES
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Let me know if you perform a piece of mine, and I'll add a link to it here!
