Even after graduating from Baker University in December, Collin Thomas has found a way to stay involved with the music department.

Thomas composed a three-part piece named “Freudian Explorations of Self” that the Baker Symphonic Wind Ensemble will perform with Adjunct Instructor of Music Steve Riley, who will be featured in multiple percussion solos.

The piece is an aural depiction of Sigmund Freud’s id, ego and superego. Thomas said the piece took about seven to eight months to compose.

Director of Bands Ray James said the piece is a very difficult one for Riley, as the soloist.

“He’s got a whole lot of percussion equipment set up,” James said. “It really challenges the soloist because it requires a bunch of disparity.”

Thomas said he wrote the piece for his college composition class taught by Riley, and, in all, he has composed around 30 or 40 pieces.

“The inspiration to write never ceases,” he said. “I think this is my most true work. A lot of the pieces I’ve written, I wrote when I was younger. This is the most work I’ve put into a piece.”

Thomas called this composition very “20th century,” meaning the tonality is harsh.

“It has themes that a listener can grasp onto,” he said. “My music has always been hard to play.”

Sophomore Luke Bowerman, one of the students playing Thomas’ piece, said he’s impressed by Thomas’ ability.

“It shows how he feels,” Bowerman said. “I think it’s amazing when someone writes a piece.”

James said the Baker jazz ensemble has also performed one of Thomas’ pieces and that he likes Thomas’ composition.

“It’s interesting,” he said. “It’s a different style from what we usually do.”

James said he’s proud of how well the band has been doing in rehearsing Thomas’ composition, and Thomas also had praise for the group.

“In a small amount of time, they have come through,” he said.

The Baker Symphonic Winds Ensemble will be performing the piece at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Rice Auditorium.