Welcome to the Galactic Playground, a magical universe of whimsy and wonder where anything is possible and adventure awaits around every corner. This composition is a sonic exploration of childlike imagination, guiding us on a journey through the vast expanse of the cosmos. I invite you to listen with a sense of wonder and let each movement’s title lead you to picture a fantastical sci-fi world of your own.

This piece is a suite made from several of my earlier works that were not often programmed. I reorchestrated and brought them together here, giving the music new names and a second life. Interestingly, while the originals never gained much attention, this suite has become quite successful and has been performed many times.

Galactic Playground was commissioned by Elizabeth and Justus Schlichting for the 2023 Blackbird Creative Lab.

(Wenbin Lyu, Sep 16, 2025)

November 8, 2025; Eyrie Festival; Athenaeum Center; Chicago, IL; Lina Andonovska, Zachary Good, Claudia Fuller, Daniel Knapp, Ethan Cowburn, & Max Hammond

September 21, 2025; California State University, Northridge; Los Angeles, CA; TEMPO ensemble

October 5, 2024; Grossman Ensemble presents "Tapas"; The University of Chicago; Chicago, IL; Grossman Ensemble

March 9, 2024; KMFA Classical: South X Southwester Showcase; Austin, TX; Density 512

February 9, 2024; Barlow Endowment 40th Anniversary Celebration; Brigham Young University; Provo, UT; Eighth Blackbird

June 11, 2023; Albany Symphony Composers Workshop; Bush Memorial Hall; Troy, NY; Albany Symphony & David Alan Miller, conductor

June 3, 2023 (premiere); Blackbird Creative Lab; Yerkes Observatory; Williams Bay, Wisconsin; Blackbird Creative Lab Cohort