I have played music since second grade when I started piano lessons. Eventually, the songs became too complex to play with a hand and an arm (see the home page). That is when I started arranging and composing music. Originally, I just changed all of the chords to the left hand so I could play them, and it worked fine— elody in the right hand and chords on the left. Eventually, I started coming up with my own melodies and made a few compositions of my own. From there, I have grown.
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Overview and Background
Overview and Background
The Composer
The Composer
Jarod Hart is a composer and conductor from central Iowa. Having recently earned his bachelor’s degree at Iowa State University, majoring in music education and composition (’26), he will soon begin his master’s degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. While at Iowa State, he studied horn and organ. His works have been commissioned, recorded, and performed by many ensembles including Enigma Classica, Horns of the Heartland, Ames Youth Choir, Iowa State University’s Lyrica choir, and the Iowa State University Wind Ensemble. Most of his works are for band, orchestra, choir, and horn ensembles, but he also enjoys writing for piano, organ, solo instruments, and theatre— including his musicals: The Tragedy of Macbeth and Little Miss Apocalypse. Many of his works draw inspiration from texts or personal life experiences with his music being fluent in many classical and jazz styles.
Jarod has performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, Tanglewood’s Studio E, and Chicago’s Symphony Hall. He is frequently asked to coach ensembles across the nation and is sought after as music director for musicals in central Iowa. Jarod is often invited to be a conductor with ensembles at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute and a clinician for school ensembles and events. When not making music, he enjoys teaching and spending as much time hiking, running, biking, or paddling as possible.
What do I like to write?
What do I like to write?
Outside of musical theater and opera that is...
Piano
Piano
The piano is the instrument I first learned and have held dear ever since. I have made many piano compositions including one major suite entitle Snapshots of Friends and Tricksters that can be listened to here and purchased from H and H Publishing. I also have a collection of four simpler piano works entitled Ballads and Memories that can also be found with H and H.
Band
Band
I play horn for concert band and trumpet for jazz band, and as such, writing for band is very natural for me and one of my favorite things to do. My first major composition undertaking was a work for band. It was not successful in what I was trying to achieve, but I work on it every now and then to try and improve it. I am proud of it, and maybe someday I will release it, but it is still unfit for other eyes.
In the mean time, I wrote a different band piece based on a work of Shakespeare's. It is "The Phoenix and the Turtle" and it is available again, this time from H and H. I have one work for beginning band currently available; entitled "Rain Song," it is available through Timeworks LLC. In the spring of 2025, I was asked to write a piece for band for the retirement of my high school band director for the subsequent year. He was a large fan of marches which gave me a great form to work with, and I even incorporated his favorite hymn, "Beautiful Savior," into the trio section. "Forevermore March" was premiered in the spring of 2026, and the performance can be found on my YouTube channel.
Orchestra
Orchestra
I played horn in the Iowa State university Symphony Orchestra, and have made two orchestra pieces. The first is one my absolute favorites and is a very pirate-y type piece. You can listen to it here. My second piece for orchestra is very recently completed and is a professional level difficulty. Writing a symphony is certainly something on my list of things to write.
Choir
Choir
Choir has been a big part of my musical growth even though I have written many more instrumental pieces than I have vocal pieces. I have a piece for choir entitled "The Spell of the Yukon" that was supposed to be the first performed of any of my works. It is not yet currently available for purchase anywhere, but I hope to make it so soon. A recording of it can be found on YouTube with piano accompaniment even though it is meant to be sung a capella.
In recent years, I have been commissioned by many choirs including the Ames Youth Choirs, Iowa State University's Lyrica Choir, and the Grace United Methodist Church Chancel Choir to write pieces. Many of these are now available on JW Pepper. My work with Lyrica and Sing Me A Story was covered by KCCI news and can be found online.
Complete Published Works by Ensemble Type
Complete Published Works by Ensemble Type
You can also navigate to these pages from the dropdown menu at the top of the page, but here is a full list of what is available.
Large Ensemble
Large Ensemble
Concert arrangements for Enigma Classica, Op. 24 (more detailed notes in the subpage, JW Pepper, 2025/2026)
Rain Song (Grade 1, Beginner Band, Timeworks LLC, 2024)
The Phoenix and the Turtle, Op. 1 (Grade 5, Wind Ensemble, H and H, 2022)
Forevermore March, Op. 19 (Grade 3, Concert Band, H and H, 2025)
Variations on a Midwestern Folk Song, Op. 20 (Grade 5, Wind Ensemble, H and H, 2025)
Prelude for Organ in F Major, Op. 21 (Grade 3, Concert Band, H and H, 2024)
Overture "Story City," Op. 22a (Grade 4, Concert Band, H and H, 2026)
But Not to Me, Op. 12 (Two-part Choir and Piano with optional Flute, JW Pepper, 2024)
The Adventures of Super B! Op.13 (SSA Choir and Piano, JW Pepper, 2024)
Calling Home, Op. 14 (SAB Choir and Piano, JW Pepper, 2024)
Chamber Music
Chamber Music
To Higher Peaks, Op. 2 (Horn Quartet or Brass Quintet, H and H, 2022/2024)
Crystals, Op. 6 (Horn Choir, H and H, 2023)
Passacaglia Rondo, Op. 7 (Trombone Choir and Organ, Veritas Musica, 2022)
Flight, Op. 17 (Brass Quartet with optional Conga, H and H, 2025)
Trio Variations, Op. 5 (Horn, Clarinet, and Bassoon, JW Pepper, 2022)
Of Petals and Plains, Op. 18 (Flute Choir, H and H, 2026)
Summer Eve, Op. 4 (Marimba and Vibraphone, H and H, 2022)
American Scenes, Op. 8 (song cycle for Baritone, Contralto, or Baritone and Horn; JW Pepper; 2023/2024)
City of Stories Song Cycle, Op. 9 (historical song cycle for Piano and Voice, JW Pepper, 2025)
Relief, Op. 10 (art song for Mezzo-Soprano and Piano, JW Pepper, 2025)
Fey of the Valfjeld, Op. 11 (musical theater piece for Treble Trio, Tenor, and Piano; JW Pepper; 2025)
Solos
Solos
Brass
Brass
Variations for Horn, Op. 3 (unaccompanied Horn, H and H, 2021)
Woodwind
Woodwind
The Bride of the Wind, Op. 23 (unaccompanied Clarinet, H and H, 2026)
Piano
Piano
Snapshots of Friends and Trickster, Op. 15 (professional, H and H, 2024)
Sleepy Ballad, Op. 16a (beginner, H and H, 2019)*
Ballad of the Moon, Op. 16b (intermediate, H and H, 2020)*
Our Friends in Europe, Op. 16c (intermediate, H and H, 2025)*
Nan Bostick Rag, Op. 16d (advanced, H and H, 2020)*
Overture "Story City," Op. 22b, c (advanced/intermediate, H and H, 2025/2026)
*Contained in Ballads and Memories
Complete Published Works by Publisher
Complete Published Works by Publisher
For more detailed notes, see above or the piece's respective subpage.
To Higher Peaks, Op. 2 (Horn Quartet or Brass Quintet)
Variations for Horn, Op. 3 (unaccompanied Horn)
Summer Eve, Op. 4 (Marimba and Vibraphone)
Trio Variations, Op. 5 (Horn, Clarinet, and Bassoon)
Crystals, Op. 6 (Horn Choir)
Snapshots of Friends and Trickster, Op. 15 (professional Piano Solo)
Sleepy Ballad, Op. 16a (beginner Piano Solo)*
Ballad of the Moon, Op. 16b (intermediate Piano Solo)*
Our Friends in Europe, Op. 16c (intermediate Piano Solo)*
Nan Bostick Rag, Op. 16d (advanced Piano Solo)*
Flight, Op. 17 (Brass Quartet with optional Conga)
Of Petals and Plains, Op. 18 (Flute Choir)
Forevermore March, Op. 19 (Grade 3, Concert Band)
Variations on a Midwestern Folk Song, Op. 20 (Grade 5, Wind Ensemble)
Prelude for Organ in F Major, Op. 21 (Grade 3, Concert Band)
Overture "Story City," Op. 22a (Grade 4, Concert Band)
Overture "Story City," Op. 22b, c (advanced/intermediate Piano Solo)
The Bride of the Wind, Op. 23 (unaccompanied Clarinet)
*Contained in Ballads and Memories
American Scenes, Op. 8 (song cycle for Baritone, Contralto, or Baritone and Horn)
City of Stories Song Cycle, Op. 9 (historical song cycle for Piano and Voice)
Relief, Op. 10 (art song for Mezzo-Soprano and Piano)
Fey of the Valfjeld, Op. 11 (musical theater piece for Treble Trio, Tenor, and Piano)
But Not to Me, Op. 12 (Two-part Choir with optional Flute)
The Adventures of Super B! Op.13 (SSA Choir and Piano)
Calling Home, Op. 14 (SAB Choir and Piano)
Concert arrangements for Enigma Classica, Op. 24 (more detailed notes in the subpage)
Rain Song (Grade 1, Beginner Band)
Passacaglia Rondo, Op. 7 (for Trombone Choir and Organ)
Looking Ahead
Looking Ahead
Over the course of the next several months to years I am looking to make more of my works available with H and H Publishing (a company I co-founded) or JW Pepper. Here is what you can expect to see:
-some piano works, mostly beginner level, some rags
-a piece for Men's Choir entitled "The Spell of the Yukon"
-Band works of many kinds and styles including multiple original works, a march, and one transcription
-"Overture 'Story City" by Nehemias Tjernagel for both contemporary band and piano solo as well as other works by Tjernagel that are going to undergo a fresh edition and publication
-The Tragedy of Macbeth and Little Miss Apocalypse
-and more!
Photo credits to Benjamin Gruwell Photography.
If you are interested in getting ahold of me to look further into scores not yet publically available for purchase, commissioning me for a project, or anything else, please contact me at 101.jarodh@gmail.com
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