November 3rd, 2012

Recital Update: I have begun collaborating with the other first-year composition graduate student at Westminster Choir College, Ian Good. We will be putting on a recital together in the spring of 2013 of works that we have composed based on the same text. It will be a nice trial for our own individual masters recitals in the spring of 2014.

Composition Update: I have finished several new works/commissions:

Sidewalk Zoo for the chamber ensemble sync|duo. This work is a duet for marimba and flute, and will likely be recorded onto a CD of new works for percussion and flute by that ensemble. It was commissioned by Daniel Kozlowski, who I have collaborated with before in composing Elisabetta.

In Unum, a work for divisi SATB chorus and piano. Based on the Psalm text that proclaims: “Behold how good and pleasant it is when people dwell together in unity,” In Unum is a highly challenging, rhythmic work that often borrows influence of jazz.

And They That Be Wise, a work based on Daniel 12:3 for a cappella SSAATTBB chorus. This work can be characterized by its frequent modulations and use of unconventional tone color.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel. I was commissioned by Grove Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond, VA to arrange this hymn for a small choral ensemble, to be used in their annual Christmas program. The arrangement will also be available for any other ensemble that wishes to use it, because I wrote it deliberately to be accessible, but still provide a depth of musicality.

The Tide Rises, a setting of the text by Ralph Waldo Emerson for high voice and piano. This work will be premiered by a tenor at Westminster Choir College in the spring of 2013.

Currently working on several projects:

• An orchestration of a Kutless song for Grove Avenue Baptist Church
• A setting of Walt Whitman’s text “Gliding Over All”
• The first movement of a choral/orchestral work…more on that later

Stay tuned for more!