2017

Preces and Responses
SATB · a cappella
A setting of the liturgical readings of the Evensong service according to the Anglican tradition. This work, with occasional divisi, can be performed by intermediate to advanced church choirs.

2016

Silent Night
SATB · a cappella
An arrangement of the traditional Christmas carol by Frans Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr, commissioned by Matthew Phelps and the Chancel Choir of West End United Methodist Church in Nashville, TN. This arrangement utilizes an accompaniment of neutral syllables underneath the melody, which navigates from the sopranos to the tenors and basses. Silent Night was premiered at the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in downtown Nashville, TN.

The Temptation of Christ
SAB · mezzo-soprano and tenor soloists · piano
An anthem for the Lenten season commissioned by Church of the Savior United Church of Christ in Knoxville, TN, under the direction of Alexandra Engle. This work narrates the temptation of Christ in the desert by Satan, incorporating texts written by John Milton, verses from Luke 4:1-13, and poetry of the choir director who commissioned the work. The choral parts are accessible for volunteer church choirs, and they are counterbalanced by more difficult mezzo and tenor soloists who play the role of Satan; their melodic lines, which often cross over each other, come in the tradition of portraying Satan in a gender-ambiguous way. The Temptation of Christ was premiered on February 14th, 2016 at Church of the Savior UCC.

2014

Why Learne To Sing?
SATB · piano
[Purchase the score here – GIA Publications]
A playful choral work for advanced choirs. The text is from the preface to “Psalms, Sonets, and Songs of Sadnes and Pietie”, a 1588 anthology published by the composer William Byrd, which features several reasons he believes that everyone should learn to sing; preserving the original English spellings, the work sets six of these reasons in a complex, multimetric style. The work also briefly harmonizes the Omnis spiritus laudet Dominum chant melody. “Since singing is so good a thing I wish all men would learne to sing.”

2013

Lord Jesus, Stay With Us
SATB · a cappella · baritone solo
Purchase the score here
Utilizing “A Collect for the Presence of Christ” from the Book of Common Prayer as its text, Lord Jesus, Stay With Us is an anthem written in a mostly-polyphonic style with frequent tonal modulation. The work was premiered on April 12th, 2012 at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ.

2012

And They That Be Wise
SSAATTBB · a cappella
Purchase the score here
An anthem based on Daniel 12:3: “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” This a cappella SATB work is frequently modular and requires a high level of vocal dexterity and flexibility.

In Sorrow
SATB · a cappella
[Purchase the score here]
A sacred work based on the 19th-century text of the same name by Thomas Hastings. This mournful setting is for an a cappella SATB chorus, divisi. This rubato work is almost exclusively homophonic, with an almost chant-like setting of the text that would be accessible for most intermediate to advanced church choirs and advanced high school choirs. It was premiered on August 13th, 2012 by the Wedgewood Summer Chorale.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel
SATB · a cappella
An arrangement commissioned by the Grove Avenue Baptist Church Celebration Choir, under the direction of Ken Van Cura; it was performed as part of their “Hope For The World” Christmas program on December 16th, 2012. The arrangement is for a cappella SATB chorus with simple and isolated divisi. Throughout the work, the melody is distributed between all voice parts, and the word “alleluia” is used as contrast to the main text. Watch the performance here.

2011

Arise and Call Her Blessed
SATB · a cappella
A mostly-homophonic work composed for Mothers Day, based on selected and adapted text from Proverbs 31. This work is for a divisi SATB chorus, a cappella, and should be performed with liberal use of rubato. Lush chords and sweeping melodic lines will make this work an simpler, yet majestic choice for a high school chorus.

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
SATB · a cappella · baritone solo throughout
An SATB divisi arrangement of the beloved hymn in the style of a contemporary cappella group. The melody is sung by a male soloist, and the choral parts utilize neutral syllables, sing the melody as a round, and even incorporate influences reminiscent of African tribal music at its climax.

Kyrie
SATB · piano · string quartet · soprano solo
A setting of the Kyrie from the Ordinary Mass for SATB chorus, piano, and double string quartet. This work utilizes the Latin text, and utilizes compositional techniques of traditional masses, with romantic and classical influences being showcased in the form of the work. [Watch a performance here]