四虎影院

In some ways, is like other millennials.

He likes Tex Mex and barbecue. A good feeling he calls a 鈥渧ibe.鈥� He spends a lot of time on email and social media

But few 27 year olds are rising through the world of classical music as fast as he is.

The Arlington-raised composer and Texas Christian University graduate is getting commissions and having his works performed around the world 鈥� and back home in North Texas. The Dallas Winds soon play his Concerto for Wind Ensemble and the is commissioning him to write a Double Concerto for trombone and piano, premiering in 2024.

Getting here hasn鈥檛 been easy.

As a kid, Day had a severe stutter that made him afraid to talk. When he was in high school, family hardships meant losing a car and a home. 鈥淲e went some days without electricity or water,鈥� Day told The Dallas Morning News in 2019. 鈥淲e struggled through childhood to have things we needed.鈥�

After the death of a childhood friend in 2015, Day struggled with depression and anxiety. He thought about giving up music and even considered taking his own life. But music, and a strong support system, ultimately helped him break through.

Music has been Day鈥檚 rock since the beginning. Growing up, he spoke most naturally through his instruments. 鈥淲henever I would play music or sing, I forgot about [the stutter]. It was almost like it wasn鈥檛 even there.鈥�

At Life in Christ Family Church in Lancaster, he played piano and organ while his parents sang. His dad, a hip-hop and gospel producer, taught him how to mix beats on a software program called FruityLoops. In school, he played euphonium, and later tuba, in band, and piano in jazz band.

These musical threads coalesce in his five-movement Concerto for Wind Ensemble, which Day calls his most personal piece.

In writing the 鈥淪oul鈥� movement, Day thought about his mom singing gospel music at church. The different solos, particularly the alto saxophone鈥檚 near the end of the movement, Day said, are meant to represent his mother鈥檚 voice. His dad鈥檚 hip-hop influence comes through especially in the 鈥淰ibe鈥� movement, Day said. And Day鈥檚 jazz background is evident in movements like 鈥淩iff.鈥�

鈥淓ach piece is a representation of a part of me,鈥� Day said in a recent phone call from California, where he was completing a composer鈥檚 residency. 鈥淚鈥檓 constantly thinking about, OK, what haven鈥檛 I shown yet? What haven鈥檛 I said yet musically that I could say in these moments?鈥�

A big break came in 2019 when drew around 450,000 views on Facebook. 鈥淜evin Day is trying to kill all euphonium players that attempt his concerto,鈥� euphonium player Demondrae Thurman joked in his post about the difficult piece.

Since then, Day has built a network on social media, landing gigs and commissions. But balancing time on and away from devices has been a challenge.

鈥淢y manager has been helping me 鈥� get away from it,鈥� Day said. 鈥淲hich leaves me more time to write, more time to create and more time to just have my life as a human being outside of being the composer.鈥�

Now based in Toronto, he works as an assistant professor of composition at Wilfrid Laurier University. He is also pursuing a doctorate in composition at the University of Miami鈥檚 Frost School of Music.

He gets back to Dallas-Fort Worth when he can, but maybe not enough for his mom, who often asks when she鈥檚 going to see him next. He still considers North Texas home, however, and likes to eat at places like Texas Roadhouse and Red Hot & Blue when in town.

鈥淟ife has changed so much,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful that it鈥檚 gone in a very positive direction. I love what I get to do, and I鈥檓 excited to come back home.鈥�

Lifelines of support

Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line: Grant Halliburton Foundation initiative that connects North Texans with mental-health resources customized to each caller at 972-525-8181, or go to .

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 24-hour crisis hotline at 1-800-273-8255. Confidential online chat is available at .

Crisis Text Line: 24-hour support by texting HOME to 741741. More information at .

North Texas Behavioral Health Authority: 24-hour crisis hotline at 1-866-260-8000 or go to .

Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas: Speak to a trained counselor on the 24-hour hotline at 214-828-1000 or 800-273-8255 or go to .

Dallas Metrocare Services: For help, call 1-877-283-2121 or go to .