This exhilarating fanfare embodies the excitement, thrill, and anxiousness of starting something new. This piece was written during my move from Indiana to Texas where I began my teaching career. I was very excited to start my career as a teacher, however the fact I’d never stepped foot in Texas mixed with being a first year teacher created a lot of uncertainties and unknowns. On top of everything, the ongoing pandemic did not ease anything. However, I see this opportunity as the beginning of a new chapter in my life and I’m ready for the many new experiences and challenges to come.

The music is full of excitement and hope, with majestic melodies and flowing lyricism. It was commissioned by the Clear Creek Independent School District as a surprise gift for the retirement of superintendent Dr. Greg Smith. Dr. Smith often cites the "hopes, dreams, and aspirations" of his students as the guiding inspiration for his decisions and devotion as a lifelong educator. "Onward to New Horizons" and the debut performance of this work for Smith by his students embodies those hopes, dreams, and aspirations - and now they have their own melody.