The First Time I Flew was commissioned in 2012 by the Jessica Rogers Foundation, a foundation started by the Rogers family to promote the education of students in music. The foundation was named after their daughter Jessica, who loved music and wanted to make it a career. Tragically she passed in her senior year. I had the blessing of knowing Jessica and knew the love that she had for music, her flute, leadership and life. This piece reflects and uses parts of music that was dear to her heart. From using her school’s fight song and alma mater to suggestions based off the piece The Noisy Bird (L’Oiseau Tapageur) by Louis Balleron for solo piccolo, the flute is featured in this piece to celebrate her life.