Ephemeral Euphoria is a meditation on the fragile beauty of bittersweet joy. The title combines ephemeral, meaning fleeting or short-lived, with euphoria, an intense state of happiness. Together, they capture the essence of radiant moments that shine brightly but cannot last forever.

For me, bittersweetness is one of the most powerful of emotions. It lives in the tension between overwhelming joy and the knowledge that such joy is temporary. In this piece, that emotional landscape is painted in sound moments of luminous harmony are touched by gentle dissonances, glowing textures expand into sweeping climaxes, and waves of energy fade suddenly into silence. Each passage reflects the way happiness can be both exhilarating and fragile, full of wonder even as it slips away.

 Ephemeral Euphoria was premiered by the United States Air Force Band under the direction of Jennifer Hepp as part of the National Band Association’s Young Composer and Conductor Mentorship Program.