Prestidigitato is not really a word. "Prestidigitato" is, however, and refers to a kind of trickery, or sleight-of-hand. The outer movements of this overture set a few fun, fast, and quirky rhythmic ideas to a circus-like melody and atmosphere. The contrasting lyrical inner section presents a simple folk-like melody which grows into something quite heroic sounding. The work was commissioned and performed by the Wichita State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble in 1997 and has since received performances by the US 323rd Army Band, the St. Louis Wind Symphony, and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Wind Ensemble, directed by Jack Stamp. Prestidigitato was one of five works chosen as part of the First Biennial National Bandmasters Association's Young Composer Mentor Project in 2000 as well as the winner of the Claude T. Smith Memorial Band Composition Contest in 2001.
