Setting the World to Music: Premiere at Dayton Philharmonic
Dr. Austin Jaquith and Dr. Steven Winteregg debuted new symphonies with the Dayton Philharmonic, exploring themes from Mahler and Dante. Jaquith’s work aims to capture life’s complexity in sound.
Can a symphony capture the vastness of human experience? For composers Dr. Austin Jaquith and Dr. Steven Winteregg, the answer unfolded in “Containing the World: Dreams of Mahler” and “Dante’s Journey,” two world premieres performed by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra on October 3-4.
A Tribute to Legacy
Jaquith, professor of music theory and composition at Cedarville University, and Winteregg, retired professor of music composition from the same institution, each composed a work for a concert honoring conductor Neal Gittleman and the orchestra’s artistic legacy.
Mahler's Influence and the Creative Struggle
Jaquith’s piece draws inspiration from Gustav Mahler’s famous declaration: “A symphony should be like the world: It should contain everything.”
“I think Mahler was saying that he was trying to capture the meaning of life through sound,” said Jaquith.
Jaquith said hearing his composition performed was exhilarating. Working with musicians of renowned talent inspires him to refine his craft further.
Inspiring Students Through Professional Practice
While teaching, Jaquith uses his professional experiences to help students visualize a real-world context for their music. He emphasizes discipline and creative flow — principles he applies in his own career. One of his most effective tools is the deadline. “I tell my students, ‘If you have to do it, you will,’” he said.
“Creative work is often painful, and most of the time the solution is just to keep going, even when everything you do seems to produce rubbish,” said Jaquith.
A New Symphony Takes Shape
Now, Jaquith is working to recruit 70 volunteer musicians to record “Containing the World: Dreams of Mahler” for streaming services. Interested parties can contact him at ajaquith@cedarville.edu.
Like Mahler, Jaquith continues to pursue a lifelong goal: to compose music that doesn’t just reflect the world — but contains it.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers and residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at .