Star Gazers Suite was inspired by an orchestra teacher, Julie Nolan, who was searching for multi-movement works to play with her first-year students. We had a great conversation about what that might look like – each movement like a lesson introducing a new concept, but also giving the players a real concert piece to prepare for performance. Plus, bonus points if it could support an interdisciplinary curriculum! Star Gazers Suite is the result of trying to connect all these ideas. Each movement portrays a constellation in the night sky, so there is an opportunity to connect this music to science and astronomy.