Some of the titles were playful: "Swing Can Stay for Another Day," "Bubbles for Trumpet," and "The Production of Awesomeness."

The tunes were all composed by Wareham High School band members, who said an assignment to compose their own music proved both fun and challenging.

"It kind of changes your whole perspective," senior flute player Emily Lowe explained of the composition process. "The hardest part … was trying to find the style I like. … You want everyone else to like it too."

The Wareham High School band has just 14 members, and director James Shetler noted that it's sometimes difficult to find pieces that sound good without a full ensemble.

So, he decided, he'd challenge the students to write and perform their own music.

From trios and a quartet to solo pieces, the students performed the works at the second annual Student Composers Concert on Wednesday, March 20.

"Band and chorus in school is generally thought of a 'performing' ensemble," Shetler explained. "That's its primary function, but at the same time, there are other opportunities for music making."

Lowe, who performed in both a quartet and for a solo piece, entitled "Carry Me Away," explained her process.

"I had to make a scenery picture in my head," she said. "I wanted people to feel like they were in heaven."

In the quartet, "Theme and Fugue in B-Flat Major," sophomore trumpet player Jeff Cifello said the instrumentation was key.

"We got really lucky with the instruments: high wind to low brass," Cifello said. The piece featured Cifello on trumpet, Lowe on flute, Tyler Barra on trombone, and Sydney Abele on sax. (See the video below!)

"Our biggest challenge was how we were going to be able to hear the flute," said Lowe.

It's these decisions, these challenges, and finally, the performance itself, that Shetler hoped would make the experience worthwhile for the students.

"It's a unique experience; one I hope they'll look back fondly on," Shetler said. "I thought they did well. They don't [often] have the opportunity to jump out on stage in a solo. … I think they reacted well."

Shetler, who is in his third year at the helm, said he's already heard positive things about the project from Wareham High alum.

A tuba player who is now majoring in music contacted him and said, "'I took what I wrote last year and made a tuba quartet out of it,'" Shetler recalled.

The current students, too, appreciated the process.

"It makes you respect the composers' work," said Cifello.

Want to hear what the Wareham High School band can do? The band will perform in a joint concert with the chorus on April 25 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

Shelter is also planning another Student Composers Concert in May. Students who did not perform their compositions at this month's concert will play, and some of the students who did play will continue perfecting their works and will perform once again.