BC composer Wylie Ferguson showcased a new composition with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) this spring.

Ferguson's nearly six minute piece is titled "Broken Earth" and the VSO played his composition on May 30. The 30-year-old composer is very pleased with how it turned out; he describes the composition as "monster music, like something out of a Godzilla movie." He adds that most of his works lean towards the "dark side."

Ferguson, who is based in Nanaimo and whose parents live on Cortes Island, applied last September to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra's composition mentorship program. He was accepted and began the seven month program last October.

Ferguson studied and taught at the Squamish Academy of Music and studied composition at Capilano University in North Vancouver. Ferguson says he's influenced by a number of contemporary composers in both the jazz and classical fields, most notably Frank Zappa.

With his VSO mentorship now complete, Ferguson hopes word will get out about his compositions and he will be sought out for commissions. In the meantime he continues composing and teaching as well as playing in a number of musical ensembles.

Hear some of Ferguson's Broken Earth composition and his reflections on the VSO mentorship program in the interview below with CKTZ News: