Magnificat
The Westminster Presbyterian Church choirs will perform the world premier of my new Magnificat setting at their annual Christmas Concert with Robert Ragoonanan conducting. An excerpt from the program note follows:
“Mary’s Magnificat prayer haunts me as I consider our modern social justice failures. I was baptized and raised in the Presbyterian Church, and it’s particularly difficult for me to wrap my head around those who claim the Bible as a justification to other, as motivation for ignoring the humanity of marginalized communities, or even as carte blanche to demonize. I wrote this piece as a call back toward the social justice and compassion for others that I believe is at the very core of the New Testament’s message.”
Preconcert Lecture
Before the Alma College’s Annual Masterworks performance, I will give a brief pre-concert lecture on the three settings of the Magnificat to be performed: Vivaldi, Taylor Scott Davis, and my own, including some compositional process elements and analysis for my own work.
Alma College Masterworks
The Alma College Choir and Orchestra will perform my Magnificat setting at their annual Masterworks Concert with Dr. Nicole Mattfeld. An excerpt from the program note follows:
“Mary’s Magnificat prayer haunts me as I consider our modern social justice failures. I was baptized and raised in the Presbyterian Church, and it’s particularly difficult for me to wrap my head around those who claim the Bible as a justification to other, as motivation for ignoring the humanity of marginalized communities, or even as carte blanche to demonize. I wrote this piece as a call back toward the social justice and compassion for others that I believe is at the very core of the New Testament’s message.”
Other works on the program will be Vivaldi’s Magnificat and Taylor Scott Davis’s Magnificat.
Did You Guys Eat? - Film Screening (Copy)
Reading Film Festival Screening
A film telling the stories of agricultural workers in the State of Michigan. Scored in collaboration with my student Audrey Merrifield. Directed by my amazing Emmy-winner colleague, Stephany Slaughter.
Did You Guys Eat? - Film Screening
Grand Rapids Film Festival Screening
A film telling the stories of agricultural workers in the State of Michigan. Scored in collaboration with my student Audrey Merrifield. Directed by my amazing Emmy-winner colleague, Stephany Slaughter.
Did You Guys Eat? - Film Screening
Royal Staff Film Festival Screening
A film telling the stories of agricultural workers in the State of Michigan. Scored in collaboration with my student Audrey Merrifield. Directed by my amazing Emmy-winner colleague, Stephany Slaughter.
Thornapple Wind Band
The Thornapple Wind Band will play music by Michigan composers, including my and then the sun.
Did You Guys Eat ¿Ya comieron?
A documentary that I scored with my graduating senior composition student, Audrey Merrifield.
ALMA COLLEGE Living Music Ensemble
The inaugural performance from Alma College’s first contemporary music ensemble. Works by Philip Glass and Bill Ryan. Three premieres by Audrey Merrifield, Ayako Pederson-Takeda, and Ainsley Kinney.
Alma Choir Tour, Performance 6
The Alma Choir’s annual tour will feature a new work for SATB choir on the theme of self love. This tour will also feature a new work by one of my composition students, Audrey Merrifield, for SATB choir.
Alma Choir Tour, Performance 5
The Alma Choir’s annual tour will feature a new work for SATB choir on the theme of self love. This tour will also feature a new work by one of my composition students, Audrey Merrifield, for SATB choir.
Alma Choir Tour, Performance 4
The Alma Choir’s annual tour will feature a new work for SATB choir on the theme of self love. This tour will also feature a new work by one of my composition students, Audrey Merrifield, for SATB choir.
Alma Choir Tour, Performance 3
The Alma Choir’s annual tour will feature a new work for SATB choir on the theme of self love. This tour will also feature a new work by one of my composition students, Audrey Merrifield, for SATB choir.
Alma Choir Tour, Performance 2
The Alma Choir’s annual tour will feature a new work for SATB choir on the theme of self love. This tour will also feature a new work by one of my composition students, Audrey Merrifield, for SATB choir.
Alma Choir Tour, Performance 1
The Alma Choir’s annual tour will feature a new work for SATB choir on the theme of self love. This tour will also feature a new work by one of my composition students, Audrey Merrifield, for SATB choir.
Love Embodied - Alma Choir Winter Concert
World premiere of a new work for SATB choir on the theme of self love. Also featuring a piece by my student, Audrey Merrifield, for SATB choir.
Composition Recital
A recital of my works at Alma College to feature several world premieres including Escape Cycles for flute and piano and my Simple Songs for solo piano. Performed by Alma College faculty
GVSU New Music Ensemble
Premiere of my Simple Song for a Small Space by the Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble.
PERFORMANCE: World Premier of Vendetta with Hope College Wind Ensemble
The Hope College Wind Ensemble under Gabe Southard will premier my Vendetta. This was my doctoral dissertation piece, and I’m thrilled that it will be receiving its first performance at Hope. I’ll also be in residence on campus Wednesday and Thursday of that week to meet with students and work with composers.
PERFORMANCE: reaching|failing with the Illinois State University Percussion Ensemble
ISU Percussion Student Ryan Lauciello heard this piece last year at the Red Note New Music Festival and asked to arrange it for percussion ensemble. It was fun to revisit the score with this new set of eyes, and I think the result will be really compelling.
PERFORMANCE: reaching|failing with TURNmusic
Great friends and wonderful musicians TURNmusic will perform this very personal piece responding to gun violence at the Flynn Center in Burlington.
PERFORMANCE: World premier of "Translated"
The Moreau|Vantuinen duo will perform a new work for euphonium and found objects at the International Women's Brass Conference at Arizona State University. Details to follow.
Performance: DRIFT by the Alma College Percussion Ensemble
My stamping grounds ensemble will perform my newest percussion chamber piece, DRIFT. I won’t be in attendance, but this group always puts on amazing shows—if you’re in the Michigan area, it’s one to check out!
Performance: PRIMAL AIR by the BFA Academy Winds
A performance by my good friend Eric Bushey and his wind ensemble at BFA Academy in St. Albans. This group of young musicians will be the second group to perform this piece in Vermont.
reaching|failing at the Red Note Festival
Fifth House Ensemble from Chicago will perform my piece reaching|failing for violin, viola, cello, and doublebass as part of their performance at the Red Note New Music Festival at Illinois State University. The piece is a response to gun violence and its impact on my family and our culture.
The performance will take place in Kemp Recital Hall on campus, and I’ll be in attendance.
PERFORMANCE: World premier of "To break your heart forever"
The Jenison High School Wind Ensemble from Jenison, MI will perform a newly commissioned work at the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids, MI. Performance date and time will be posted when available.
PERFORMANCE: PriMal Air with the NVU Wind Ensemble
The Northern Vermont University Wind Ensemble will perform my PriMal Air on their December program.
Summer Travel/Study
This summer, I'm thrilled to be joining the Composing in the Wilderness program sponsored by the Fairbanks Summer Music Festival and headed by Stephen Lias. We'll be hiking in Denali National Park for several days, then composing pieces inspired by the experience to be performed in Fairbanks and Denali National Park.
University of Nebraska Kearney New Music Festival
Dr. Robert Benton will perform my Zero Circle for euphonium and live electronics on the festival, which will be held on the campus of the University of Nebraska Kearney.
Performance - ComeUnity by Johnson State College Chorale
The Johnson State College Chorale will perform ComeUnity at their annual Holiday Gala performance. I'll be performing at the piano for the remainder of the program as well.
Performance - Antigone Live Sound
During the Johnson Theater Department's performance of Antigone this fall, I'll be providing an improvised soundscape using live audio from the production. The students have done an incredible job preparing this show, including rewriting the script to reflect modern times, and writing several alternative endings that audience members can vote to see.
Shows are on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2:00.
Recording Release - Circadian Rhythm by Joshua Ganger
Josh Ganger has been hard at work putting together a really impressive album of works for all manner of trumpets. His album Songs of a Sojourner--which includes a recording of my "Circadian Rhythm" will be released on Summit records this coming November! Date and details to come.
Performance - ComeUnity by Johnson State College Choirs
JSC choirs will perform ComeUnity with local students for the Performing Arts Festival.