Song of the Bearcats was composed in the summer of 2022 and commissioned by Dr. Christopher Wilke to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the CCM Guitar Department. The title comes from the University of Cincinnati’s mascot, the Bearcat, with all the returning alumni feeling to me like little bearcats.

I had originally planned to call the piece Fanfare for the Bearcats, expecting it to be loud and grand. But once finished, the music felt less like a fanfare and more lyrical, almost song-like. So I kept the original idea but renamed it Song of the Bearcats.

(Wenbin Lyu, August 4, 2022)

November 1, 2022; CCM; Cincinnati, OH; CCM Guitar Ensemble

October 26, 2022; View From the Edge; CCM; Cincinnati, OH; CCM Guitar Ensemble

September 3, 2022 (premiere); CCM 50th Anniversary Guitar Gala; CCM; Cincinnati, OH; CCM Guitar Orchestra & Christopher Wilke, conductor