The May 14 Salisbury High School Spring Concert was anything but typical for the packed auditorium of family, friends and community members.

It was the world premier of "Aquatica" a piece of music written by composer Dr. Scott Watson and commissioned for the Salisbury High School Concert Band, Rachel Reinecke, director.

Reinecke said two years ago, the music boosters approached members of the music department to gather their "wish list." On Reinecke's list was the idea of pursuing a commissioning project.

Then last May 30, Superintendent Robert Gross died and Reinecke hoped to honor him with a commissioning and asked the boosters if the money was still available.

Then president of the Salisbury Music Association, Gail Kloss said, "We think it is an excellent idea to commission a piece of music dedicated to Mr. Gross." Reinecke reached out to Watson, a nationally recognized composer and teacher of instrumental and classroom music in the Parkland School District for 26 years.

"When I approached composer Scott Watson, I knew that we were not just asking him to write a song for our band to play, but to write music that would be eligible for publication," Reinecke said. "This meant allowing him to write for instrumentation we don't have."

Gross was Reinecke's band director at Emmaus High School. "He is why I teach music," she said.

Reinecke said Watson wanted to be involved because he knew Gross. When Watson became the high school band director at Parkland High School in 1986, Gross was at Emmaus and was regarded as one of the best. "I really respected him," Watson said.

Watson talked with Maryann Gross and began writing the piece in August 2012.

"There is a place in the piece, five measures of music, incorporating the instruments Bob, Maryann and their children played– drum, trumpet, french horn and clarinet. I decided to celebrate his life rather than mourn his death in the piece."

That fall, Reinecke heard a preview and the piece was completed in December 2012.

Watson said "Aquatica" is about the adventure of being on the water. "The piece opens atmospherically in tranquil beauty like a serene lake, a calm sea or an eerie underwater scene. Shortly, however, the piece bursts into spirited 6/8 material that suggests either water creature or craft moving fast and playfully through the waves. Specifically, however, "Aquatica" is a musical tribute and remembrance of band director and, later, school superintendent, Robert Gross. According to Bob's wife, he loved to be on the lake waterskiing. His favorite time there was in the morning when the lake was calm and smooth as glass, but when pulled at breakneck speed on his slalom ski, he could cut this way and that across the surface of the water. Just before the transition from calm to exciting there is a brief, transparently scored passage for four solo instruments clarinet, French horn, trumpet, and snare drum instruments played by and representing the members of Bobs immediate family. The fast theme is presented, developed, and recapitulated in a way that celebrates with joy the life of this beloved husband, father, teacher and educational leader," Watson said.

Reinecke filled holes in the band on stage with people who had a connection to Gross.

Former student of Gross and high school band director for Pequea Valley (Lancaster County) James Ackerman played tympani; elementary music teacher in Philadelphia Matthew Knecht played tuba; former student Aaron Lichtenwalner played percussion; Freedom band director Mike Moran played trombone; friend Scott Brodt, Nazareth Music Center, played bass clarinet; Ralph Brodt, Nazareth Music Center, played trumpet; friend of Bob and Maryanne Deb Andrus played clarinet and friend Kevin O'Connell played baritone.

"They are playing tonight as a way of honoring him. They were his friends, colleagues and former students," Reinecke said May 14 before the premiere of "Aquatica." I must take this opportunity to again thank the Salisbury Music Association for their ongoing support as it allows us to do some really neat things for the kids, such as this commissioning. I would also like to thank Maryann Gross for her support of this project and for providing Scott Watson with information that allowed him to personalize the music."

Reinecke said she will take the song to county band next year and expects Salisbury students to play the piece every four years.

"It's a way of passing his lessons forward to the Salisbury band students," Reinecke said.

Reinecke announced at the concert that Alfred Publications has selected Aquatica, to publish it as part of its fall catalogue. "When published, it will carry the following dedication: Commissioned by the Salisbury High School Band, Allentown Pennsylvania, in memory of Superintendent Robert R. Gross III, who encouraged all he encountered in his years as a band director and administrator to be the best they could be."