IMS 8th Grade Band Selected as Premier Ensemble for ComMission Possible Project
IMS eight grade band teacher Melody Snyder conducts the band in the IMS band room. Mercer Island, WA, October 13, 2026 – The Mercer Island School District is pleased to announce the Islander Middle School eighth grade band has been selected as the Premiere Ensemble for the 2027 "Beyond the Notes" ComMission Possible project.
The ComMission Possible project creates real, meaningful connections between ensemble students and composers. Participating students explore their own creative thoughts while working directly with a renowned composer to bring an original band work to life. One participating school is selected as the Premier Ensemble and earns the honor of premiering the piece—live, with the composer in attendance.
“This is a really unique opportunity for our students to experience the entire creative process - from their own ideas to a professional composer creating a new work, to bringing that music to life for the very first time,” said IMS 8th grade band teacher Melody Snyder.
In previous years students would submit ideas for the new composition through written descriptions or recorded video presentations. This year, students submitted a traditional or modern 2D visual work of art that they created.
This new approach illuminates the connection between the art forms and the capacity the arts have to express ideas and emotions. Traditional 2D art form submissions include drawing, painting, printmaking, and collage and modern and digital 2D art form submissions include photography, graphic design, digital illustration, pixel and vector art, textile art.
IMS students’ selections have inspired a brand-new piece of music by composer Adrian Sims through their own creative visual artwork, and the eighth-grade band will premiere the piece at their concert on Wednesday, June 9 at IMS at 6:30pm.
About Adrian Sims
Sims will come to IMS for a residency, where he'll work with all of the school’s band students.Adrian B. Sims, born in Seattle, Washington, is an accomplished composer and conductor of music for bands, orchestras, and chamber ensembles of all levels. Adrian has more than 50 publications to his name, and many of his works have been selected for the JW Pepper Editor’s Choice List, the Bandworld Top 100 List, and the Texas Prescribed Music List. His music has been performed at prestigious conferences, such as The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, The Texas Music Educators Association, and at new music reading sessions across the country. Adrian has been commissioned by numerous organizations, including the Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity, to compose a new work that premiered at The 78th Midwest Clinic.
He is frequently invited to conduct honor bands, rehearse, and lead clinics with bands and orchestras of all levels across the United States. Adrian has recording experience as both a conductor and producer, and has recorded music at the University of Maryland at College Park, The University of Texas at Austin, and The Palladium in Indianapolis. He has produced recordings of works by notable composers such as Viet Cuong, David Biedenbender, and Katahj Copley.
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