2026 Lyon College Consortium

Beira: Queen of Winter

Original work for concert band or flexible ensemble (2 versions).

*The flexible version will be authentic to the original, while allowing flexibility depending on your instrumentation.

Publisher Grade 3

About:

"Beira: Queen of Winter" is a haunting and evocative piece inspired by the ancient Scottish goddess Beira, also known as Cailleach Bheur in Celtic mythology. A figure of immense power and mystery, Beira is the embodiment of winter—a goddess who commands the cold and the snow, shaping the land and seasons through her icy rule. This song captures her sovereignty over the frozen realms and the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. A queen of winter, Beira weaves her tale through a landscape of harsh beauty, where both destruction and renewal are entwined in her dominion.

Consortium Founder - Dr. John Christian, Director of Bands

Lyon College (Batesville, Arkansas)

Learn more about Dr. Christian's interest in creating this consortium by emailing him at john.christian@lyon.edu

Timeline:

Friday, January 9th, 2026 - Deadline for registration and payment.

Friday, February 13th, 2026 - Digital score(s) and parts shared to consortium.

*You will have the option of selecting full band, flexible ensemble, or both.

*All consortium members will have exclusive rights to premiere the piece from delivery through spring of 2027.

Member Levels:

$500 (Level 3)

Name included in the printed score.
Digital score and parts to BOTH the full band version and flexible ensemble version.
30-minute zoom session with the composer and your ensemble.