Randy Stokes - Composer

Randy Stokes has been Principal Trombonist with the Dakota Valley Symphony for over thirty years, and also serves as Composer in Residence. In that time he has composed a number of works for the orchestra, including Dakotah for chorus and orchestra, commissioned by the city of Burnsville Minnesota as part of their year 2000 celebration, A Child Is Born for chorus, orchestra, and soloists, and the orchestral suite Wings. More recent works include And the Merry Love to Dance, Song of the Lakes, and A Rowdy Good Time for the Dakota Valley Symphony's 30th Anniversary Celebration.

Randy lives in Eagan, MN with his fiancée Diana. They love to travel, ride roller coasters, and spend time with his granddaughter.

"American Dream" was commissioned by Stephen J. Ramsey and the Dakota Valley Symphony of Burnsville, MN. It is receiving its World Premiere on February 8, 2026 at the Ames Center in Burnsville, MN.

Written to honor the United States' 250th birthday ("Semiquincentennial"), "American Dream"celebrates the qualities that led to the Founding of our country, and a vision we can all share for the future. From the "Seventy Six, Twenty Six" triplet/duplet figure and a 13 note theme in the flute, through folk tunes from the Revolutionary Era, to the final affirmation of "And crown thy good with brotherhood" from "America the Beautiful" over 13 bells for the 13 original colonies, it weaves a musical tapestry of the hope that still binds us together as a Nation.