A method is disclosed for forming a blended phosphor composition. The method includes the steps of firing precursor compositions that include europium and nitrides of at least calcium, strontium and aluminum, in a refractory metal crucible and in the presence of a gas that precludes the formation of nitride compositions between the nitride starting materials and the refractory metal that forms the crucible. The resulting compositions can include phosphors that convert frequencies in the blue portion of the visible spectrum into frequencies in the red portion of the visible spectrum.