Long Time no Blog

So it has been a while since I have written here. Life has been busy.

While I was away I had some exciting things go down...

I played a couple of new piano cycles here and also in my brother's art gallery Nox Contemporary in Salt Lake City. I think they were fairly successful. They are definitely becoming more indicative of my new process of composing. Well, I don't know if it is a process so much as a frame of mind in my approach to writing.

I finally got a piece for Trumpet and Piano done (Winds of Another Planet) but the recording was.... interrupted by massive squeaking of doors. So hopefully it can get done again some day to get a recording of it. I think it was pretty successful.

One of the new piano cycles is a work based on ideas and/or techniques from Morton Feldman. You can give that a listen HERE. (scroll down a bit to Because of Morton Feldman). I thought it appropriate since a lot of my new ideas and approaches to writing came from reading his essays and interviews on his own approach. Mainly, the intensity with which he wrote. Making every minute of composition time productive, or walk away. Between this, and a the necessity of it with a new baby 18 months ago, it has been the best writing experiences of my life these last 2 years.

The second one was an interesting project. I took 5 of my brother's latest works that he has been working on in charcoal and graphite. These were really interesting to deal with as, in talking with him, I felt that we are beginning to approach creation in a very similar way, or more to the point, I am coming into more of his way of approaching these things. you can listen to that HERE, as well as see the drawings that accompany them.

I have worked with his paintings and other pictorial subjects before, but this one was different somehow. I don't know if it was the paintings themselves being so different then what I have worked with before, or maybe it's me and I feel like I am finally reaching some relative level of maturity in my work. I am not sure, and I am not really dwelling on it too much, just enjoying the end product.

Of course then school starts and my productivity comes to a slow crawl. But I was able to get an a cappella solo voice song done, which is interesting in itself. I hope to get it done some day.

I also had a "new" solo cello piece (A Voice Within) premiered, finally after 2 years of several performances that fell through, at the first annual OCU Alumni concert in November. Unfortunately I was unable to attend but I am looking forward to hearing the recording. It's a strange piece I wonder how it turned out?

Upcoming Performance

Sunday, June 10th at 2pm I will be performing two new works at the Metro Galleries, Winds of Another Planet; for Trumpet and Piano with Kris Tiner on Trumpet, and Because of Morton Feldman; a new piano cycle. Also on the bill are two amazing musicians William Roper (tuba) and Michael Vlatkovich (trombone) doing some amazing improvisations and original compositions. 

I haven't played in public in a long time, I am really excited about performing in this venue. I cannot thank Kris Tiner enough for allowing me to incorporate my work into this concert serious. Should be a fantastic evening.

THE SHOW recording!!!

Here is the recording of the World Premiere (I think that should be followed by a trumpet fanfare every time anyone says it) of THE SHOW last week in New York by the wonderful artists Danya Katok-Ahlbin (soprano) and Nana Shi (piano). I can't thank them enough.

The text is by Wilfred Owen - one of my favorite poets.

*disclaimer* - the space they performed in had a big echo so the recording reflects that, but I feel that the piece still shines through.


push HERE to listen!!

A Second Time

Le Long du Chemin, my 14 minute monstrosity of a piano piece is actually going to get a second performance. (Technically it's the third, but my grad recital doesn't count).

It has been programmed for the 10th Annual Contemporary Composers Festival in San Francisco this coming summer. Now all I have to do is find a performer to play it, as finding your own performer is one of the stipulations of the concert. Having an average of 1 hit for every 100 entries I send out, I didn't think it would actually happen.

So on the hunt I go for a Bay Area based pianists willing to take on 14 minutes for very little money.... good luck to me!

The Show - World Premiere

This is very exciting!!


Soprano Danya Katok and Pianist Nana Shi will perform the world premiere of The Show at the Rotunda at CUNY Bronx Community College (Bronx, NY) in an exciting recital of living composers including Ned Rorem,  Andre Previn, Richard Hundley, Juliana Hall and Georgia Stitt.


The recital is on May 2nd at 4pm. 


I am so excited to get this piece performed. I think it is my best work to date (just finished in Dec. 2011). A much appreciated thank you to Danya and Nana for once again giving me the opportunity to hear my work performed by world class performers. They are truly amazing artists!!