Program Note

People often tell me I have a calm demeanor. I suppose that's true, but I also know anxiety quite well. For me, it often lives in the background, a constant sense of being on edge that follows me around throughout my life. It rarely manifests itself physically, but the stress is very real and it can pile up over time. Earth Slips Beneath You describes this distinct feeling, stacking up slowly until it can longer be ignored.

When I wrote this piece in early 2019, I was in a particularly stressful mental space. Coming back to the piece almost three years later has allowed me to reflect on the progress I have made since that time. I am proud to say that these anxious feelings are less frequent and less intense, and when they occur, I have the emotional intelligence to recognize what's happening. If you can relate to any of this, know that you are not alone, and that change is possible ❤️

About Maddy Wildman

Over the course of her music making life, Maddy Wildman has been nurtured by an incredible artistic community, each day challenging her to be more joyful, humble, and kind. If she can extend even a fraction of that to others through her artistic practice, then she will consider her life a success.

Maddy Wildman (b. 1997) (she/her) is a bassoonist, composer, virgo, amateur baker, cocktail enthusiast, and proud cat mom. She's extremely excited to be playing with her friends in Vanguard, especially looking forward to the premiere of her new work!

As a bassoonist she plays with a lot of people, most notably Front Porch, slapslap, BRIGE and Moongreen. She also writes music which you can listen to here.

Maddy is also honored to work in Arts Education with the University Musical Society, you can learn more about her work with them here. She was born in Wyoming, raised in Spokane, Washington, graduated from the University of Michigan, and lives happily with her girlfriend in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Last updated October 22, 2021