Reach for the Skies was composed for my friend and colleague Mr. Rick Lambrecht and the UTEP Horn Choir, which he directs, for their presentation at the 2017 Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference. This occasion marked the first time a UTEP student ensemble had been invited to perform at this international event. The piece moves between passages of power and majesty to ones more lyrical and flowing, all the while permeated with a spirit of unwavering confidence. Its title reflects the achievement of UTEP’s Horn Choir under Professor Lambrecht’s direction and the ideal of constantly striving for excellence.