RIC Music Major Composes 1st Symphony
Rhode Island College music major Zach Fulford is putting the finishing touches on what he considers his masterpiece.
Fulford, 22, a senior, is creating a symphony as part of his departmental honors project. He’s been working on it for months and it is due to be completed by mid-April. Fulford says it is an undertaking that has tested his mettle, although during his tenure at RIC, he’s created scores for films and composed music for RIC’s wind and jazz ensembles.
“I think this symphony is the best thing I’ve ever done because it’s a culmination of everything I’ve learned as a musician and composer here at RIC,” he says. “I was able to pour my heart into this piece.”
The symphony is titled “The Road Home” and traces Fulford’s journey through middle and high school and into college.
“I didn’t have a lot of friends in middle and high school, so college gave me a fresh start,” he says. “I’ve gone through a journey of finding myself through a music setting. Everyone here at RIC has been so welcoming and encouraging that I feel like I’ve finally found my home.”
Fulford, who started composing “The Road Home” last September, says writing a symphony is considered a rite of passage for composers.
“With symphonies, there are many string instruments. I just started learning about the unique properties of string playing, which doesn’t require breathing within a piece,” says Fulford, who plays trumpet. “However, wind instruments like my trumpet require taking a breath. So, I had to get used to composing for strings, and that’s meant a lot of going back and forth to the drawing board reworking things.”
The main concept he strives to keep in mind about composition is that the music must always tell a story.
“I like to use the tone and color of instruments to tell a story,” he says. “Brass instruments can be menacing, triumphant and heroic while woodwinds are smoother, fluid and create a peaceful vibe. I’ve learned that the sound qualities of these instruments portray different emotions.”
Fulford is also adept at working on film scores. Last summer, Jonathan Pineda, a RIC film studies student, heard about Fulford’s ability to write music and asked him to produce the scores for three of his films: “The Castles” (2024), “They Only Come at Night” (2025) and “Past Present Future” (2025).
“Writing for films was out of my comfort zone but gave me a challenge,” Fulford says. “The challenge was to produce music that’s interesting but doesn’t take away from the films.”
Pineda says that mission was accomplished: “Zach is a true professional of his craft and his scores are delightful. His music is moving and heartfelt. For example, in my film ‘The Castles’ the theme he produced titled ‘Bittersweet’ is what makes the film. I love working with Zach and I can’t wait to see what he does next, especially with me.”
RIC Professor of Music Joseph Foley says Fulford’s multiple talents of playing trumpet, arranging, composing and conducting will serve him well in the future.
“I’ve always tried to encourage my students to try their hand at writing and arranging music,” says Foley, who also directs the RIC jazz and wind ensembles. “Zach has embraced that challenge full on. We have performed many of his arrangements with our jazz group and he will introduce his second composition with the RIC Wind Ensemble in May. All of his works have been high quality and it’s been a pleasure to watch him grow as a musician.”
For information on RIC’s music program, visit Music B.A., B.M.