Most of the music performed at our spring recital was familiar to anyone with a passing knowledge of the classics. But there was one piece nobody in the audience had heard before. Called “Spring Sunrise,” it was written by JoMS volunteer teacher KristopherRucinski and played by his piano student Jamal. Kristopher has written a handful of pieces for his students over the years. “It’s been my experience as a performer that there’s a special feeling of achievement at being the first person to play a work,” he says. “Also, I like to involve them in the compositional process. Writing a piece that plays to their skills gives them something they can’t get in a book.”Kristopher describes Jamal as “a very expressive player.”Together they’ve had some improvisation sessions where Jamal has shown “a very adventurous sense of choosing chords and rhythm. I wanted to incorporate that in my piece. It wasn’t all in 4/4 time. There was 7/8and 6/8 and all kinds of things.”“Spring Sunrise” is a beautiful piece that unfolds slowly with some repeating elements and pauses. It’s meant to sound like emerging from the cold of winter into a beautiful landscape, Kristopher explains. Jamal is one of three piano students Kristopher is teaching at the Joy of Music School. The others, Elsie and Gianna, will “absolutely” get to debut original compositions by him in the near future. “In fact, Giannahas already asked me for one!” he says. We can’t wait to hear it.