When Jem Parkhill first began composing At the Heart of the Tower, the piece wasn’t originally intended for a contest. But somewhere in the middle of the creative process, inspiration struck.
“I remember getting that text about the composition competition and thinking, ‘Wait a second — maybe I should finish this and submit it,’” Jem said.
That split-second decision paid off. Jem, a senior at Everett High School, was recently named the winner of The University of Olivet’s High School Composition Competition.
The Prize: Performance and a $2,000 Music Scholarship
Winning the competition comes with perks. This fall, At the Heart of the Tower will be performed and recorded by The University of Olivet Honor Band during the university’s annual Honor Band event.
Additionally, Jem is now eligible for a $2,000 music scholarship should they choose to attend The University of Olivet.
From Marching Band to Music Theory
A saxophonist deeply involved in music throughout high school, Jem has participated in marching band all four years at Everett, along with jazz band, concert band and symphonic band. But composition has become an especially meaningful creative outlet.
Describing At the Heart of the Tower as “video game-esque” with orchestral influences, Jem said the composition was shaped by both music theory exploration and inspiration from modern video game composers.
The Science of Sound: Experimenting with Musical Modes
“One of the ways I started the piece was experimenting with brighter and darker versions of musical modes,” Jem said. “I took the Dorian mode and used a brighter variation of it for some of the main motifs.”
What is Musical Mode?
In music, modes are different ways of arranging the same set of notes to create entirely different moods and emotions. Some can sound bright and energetic, while others feel darker, more mysterious or reflective. The Dorian mode — which inspired portions of At the Heart of the Tower — is often associated with the soulful, cinematic sound heard in jazz, film scores and video game music.
Inspired by Kirby and Undertale
Among the composers who have influenced Jem are Japanese composer Jun Ishikawa, known for his work on the Kirby video game franchise, and American video game composer Toby Fox, creator of the soundtracks for Undertale and Deltarune.
“The way Jun Ishikawa uses chord progressions and melodies is really inspiring to me,” Jem said.
Though the composition took shape over the course of about a month, Jem said the creative process often feels less structured and more immersive.
“People always ask how long it takes me to write music, and honestly, sometimes I can’t remember because I’m just in the zone,” Jem said.
Looking Ahead: A Future in Video Game and Film Scores
In addition to composing, Jem already performs in musical gigs and hopes to continue pursuing music in college and beyond, potentially in performance, composition, film scoring or music education.
“I’ve always wanted to compose for video games,” Jem said. “But recently I’ve also been thinking about film scores. I’d love to explore that more.”
Jem also said becoming a music teacher someday would be rewarding.
“I love teaching people about music,” Jem said. “I’m just such a nerd about it.”
Evan Lewis, director of bands at The University of Olivet, was impressed with the quality of compositions submitted for the contest. “I have been working with student composers for years, but this is the first time I’ve had the privilege of viewing this many works at such a high level. Jem’s work, in particular, shows a grasp of music theory and musical design that goes well beyond what I would expect to see from a High School student. I look forward to preparing and conducting their work this fall.”
About the High School Composition Competition
The University of Olivet’s High School Composition Competition was created to encourage and recognize emerging student composers while giving them the opportunity to hear their original work performed by collegiate musicians. Learn more about Olivet’s music program.