Tricycle was commissioned by the Northshore Schools, District 112 (Ill.) for the inauguration A--City Band Festival. Directors of the participating schools were Mike Brehmer, Dennis Runyon, Steve Zachar, and Glenn Williams.

The title of the work refers to both the structure of the piece and the event for which it was commissioned. The All-City Band Festival involves three schools performing and working together as one, much as all three wheels of the tricycle must work together to move forward. The music reflects this idea by having three separate themes introduced on their own before finally being combined to work together as one musical entity. The title is even more appropriate considering the playful and innocent qualities of the piece as a whole. Tricycle is a piece that is meant to be light, fun, and happy.