Moving from Finale to Dorico

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Evan VanDoren is an in-demand music composer regularly commissioned to create engaging & award-winning music for marching bands and concert ensembles at all skill levels. Evan’s music is regularly performed around the country, including premiere performances at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic.  In 2025, Evan was recognized as a National Finalist for The American Prize in Composition for his works, LuminositiesProphetic Dances.  

Evan serves as the brass composer & arranger for the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps, based in Santa Clara, California.  Additionally, Evan is an active clinician and has presented for Drum Corps International, the Music Educators National Convention, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, and Music for All. He regularly consults with music programs nationwide.

Before devoting his life to creating music, Evan was a band director at Cedar Park High School in Cedar Park, Texas. During that time, the band was awarded multiple marching state championships and national recognition. He received a Bachelor's in Music Education with Honors from Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. Currently, he lives in Cedar Park, Texas, with his wife, Katie, daughters Anna & Sara, and their dog, Cooper.

Choosing the Right Custom or Pre-Designed Show

Choosing the Right Custom or Pre-Designed Show

When you’re considering how to program a marching band show, there’s a lot to consider! Commissioning custom arrangements and designs can be expensive and time-consuming, though buying pre-designed projects might not be the right thing for your program either. One thing’s for sure: you’ve got limited resources (both time and money) to expend to get the best result for your students and community.

Join me, along with Matt James and Scott Koter, as we discuss the vast array of options available when considering programming for your upcoming marching show! Tim Hinton, from Marching Arts Education and the Marching Roundtable, moderates our conversation in addition to injecting some very valuable insight of his own!

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