A Crashendo Symphony was commissioned in 2024 by Erica Rasmussen for the Crashendo! Orchestra Project, a music education program based at Laverton P-12 College in the western suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. I composed the work in January and February 2025.

For over a decade, my creative process has involved conducting preliminary research before setting out notes on a page of music manuscript, and A Crashendo Symphony was no exception to this. As the project was getting underway, I got the opportunity to interview students from the Crashendo! program a couple of times, and ask them what sort of piece they would like to play. Our conversations ranged freely; after one of the sessions we had collectively established the students were after a piece that included a jazz waltz played by a snappy saxophone-playing crocodile who lived in Paris! A tall order indeed! Nonetheless, I found it a joy to explore ideas as I composed the piece.

Ultimately, my vision for A Crashendo Symphony was that it be a work that challenges and extends the ability of the musicians, and provide them with the opportunity to revel in and celebrate the chance to make music together. Surely, there aren’t many better things in life than that?

We were incredibly fortunate to have Andrew Harrison lead a composition workshop with our students. His professionalism, creativity, and ability to connect with young musicians of all levels were truly outstanding…The result was a set of works that resonated deeply with both students and staff, bringing our ensembles together and fostering a shared sense of achievement.
Erica Rasmussen, Director, Crashendo! Music Program