On the evening of Tuesday, April 21, the Emerson Middle School Symphonic Band will put on their spring concert with something truly special at the heart of the program: a newly commissioned work, pedAL to the metAL, written in honor of percussionist, educator, and innovator Albert Eugene Payson.
For the students performing it, this is more than just another piece of music, it is a living tribute to a musician whose legacy still resonates, quite literally, within the walls of their school.
A Life in Rhythm
Albert Eugene Pisoni, later known as Albert “Al” Payson, was born in 1934 in Springfield, Illinois, and showed an early passion for music. After performing with the Louisville Orchestra and Lyric Opera of Chicago, he joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1958, where he spent nearly 40 years, much of it under Sir Georg Solti. A featured performer on many recordings, including a Grammy-winning 1977 recording of Boléro, Payson was part of an orchestra that earned 54 Grammy Awards!
And for those who may not realize it: if you’ve ever watched Fantasia 2000, you’ve already heard him play!
The Teacher Behind the Music
While his performance career was extraordinary, Payson’s impact as an educator may be even more profound. Beginning in 1963, he taught at DePaul University for nearly five decades and also spent time on faculty at Northwestern University. Even after retiring from the CSO in 1997, he returned to teaching, continuing to mentor young musicians with the same passion that defined his playing.
He was known not only for his expertise, but for his warmth. Each year, he invited his students to his home for a barbecue, a simple but meaningful tradition that reflected his belief in community, connection, and the joy of making music together.
A Connection Close to Home
At Emerson Middle School, Payson’s legacy is not just historical, it is personal. Before the current building opened in 1998, Emerson Junior High stood nearby, and Payson’s children were students there. The connection deepened even further: the timpani still used by Emerson’s band students today once belonged to Payson himself.
Retired Emerson band director Eric. Bachmann would occasionally invite Payson back to tune those very drums, and current Emerson band director Alex Teater recalls the privilege of meeting him during one of those visits.
“It was fascinating to hear his stories and experiences,” Teater shared. “You could feel the depth of his knowledge and his love for music.”
From Idea to Inspiration
The idea for pedAL to the metAL grew from two intersecting thoughts. The first was practical. A few years ago, Teater found himself with an unusually large and talented middle school percussion section that was 14 students strong. When two were selected for the ILMEA District Band, he began searching for a piece that would showcase them.
What he found was…very little.
“There really isn’t much out there for middle school percussion features,” he said. “That stuck with me.”
The second thought was historical: the deep connection between Payson and the Emerson community.
When Payson passed away in the summer of 2024, those two ideas converged into a single purpose: to create something meaningful, lasting, and worthy of his legacy.
Thanks to the Band Orchestra Parents Association (BOPA) for helping to fund the commission. Teater reached out to composer Danielle Fisher, and what followed was a creative partnership marked by “countless hours on the phone…making edits, pitching ideas, and just having a lot of fun creating music together.”
A Piece with Purpose
The result is pedAL to the metAL, a dynamic and engaging work that places young percussionists front and center which was exactly the kind of opportunity that was missing when Teater first went searching.
The title itself is a clever nod to both musical energy and percussion technique, capturing the spirit of motion, drive, and precision that defined Payson’s career.
More importantly, the piece reflects his dual identity as both performer and educator.
“This commission is dedicated to the legacy of Al Payson and the lasting impact he had on the modern music world,” Teater said. “I believe he would have been excited about expanding our repertoire in a way that includes and celebrates young percussionists.”
A Premiere and Beyond
pedAL to the metAL was first premiered by the Emerson Symphonic Band at the Prairie State Band Festival on April 11. Now, it returns to the spring concert on April 21 at 7:00 PM, this time at Emerson itself, in a space filled with echoes of Payson’s influence.
As the final notes ring out, they will carry with them more than melody and rhythm. They will carry history, innovation, mentorship, and inspiration all woven together into a piece that ensures Albert Payson’s legacy continues to shape the next generation of musicians.
And fittingly, it will be performed on the very instruments he once played.