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.

Before 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 compositional process elements and analysis for my own work.

World premier of my new sonata for saxophone and piano, Twilight Songs with the incredible Matthew Tracy at the NASA National Conference. Saturday, 1:00.

Test run of Twilight Songs for alto sax and piano with Matt Tracy at Harderwyk Ministries in Holland, MI.

Test run of Twilight Songs for alto sax and piano with Matt Tracy at Missouri State University.

I’ll host the Young Composers of Michigan concert through the MMEA this year, which will also feature a work by one of my students, Nolan Musonda. This is an incredible opportunity to hear the the next generations of creators from all over the state.

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.”

Meditation 2: Forest by Taylor Schultz is a 20-25 minute improvisatory ambient work. Ensemble members will surround the audience, who will be welcomed to walk around as the piece is performed.

DEX by Dennis Bathory-Kitsz is an improvisatory piece with graphic notation that is based on cards drawn from a deck. On one side, cards have numbers that are drawn to represent a particular date and time. The other side of each card features graphic notation that the ensemble will collectively interpret.

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.

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.

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.

A documentary that I scored with my graduating senior composition student, Audrey Merrifield.