Hi everyone, I write having just returned from sunny Arizona, where I was visiting the NASA Region 2 Conference (no, not that NASA). The weekend was packed with stellar performances: thanks to the hard work of the University of Arizona saxophone studio, I caught works by Biedenbender, Pann, Mellits, Zoulek, and on and on. I also … Continue reading superior cloud days
Category: My works
Saxophone Saxophone Saxophone
Hi everyone-- I'm very excited for the month ahead and I hope you'll join me on what promises to be the busiest months yet of my career. There will be four (FOUR!) performances of my tenor saxophone piece and the semester will cap off with the premiere of a new work for orchestra. Read on: … Continue reading Saxophone Saxophone Saxophone
a quiet semester, but with color
Hello everyone, happy holidays. As the title notes, this semester has been mostly quiet, publically quiet. That's not to say memories haven't been made--Pulitzer-winning chamber choir Roomful of Teeth privately read a new work of mine, a new batch of ducks took the stage for the first time, and I premiered my first solo audio/video work … Continue reading a quiet semester, but with color
Canvas the Bear RETURNS (again)!!!
Dear adoring fans of Canvas the Bear, It's with great pleasure that I announce that the full-length version of Canvas the Bear will be making its Michigan debut this month. The work will appear at two concerts alongside other tunes commissioned by the Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble. Each piece was written specifically … Continue reading Canvas the Bear RETURNS (again)!!!
new year, new me
Hi everyone! It's a new year--or at least a new school year--and I've just started my MM at the University of Missouri. Hence, the website got a shiny new finish, which includes a now-much-easier-to-navigate media section! In addition to this, Fifth House Ensemble has just released a video of a performance of genealogy I at Constellation … Continue reading new year, new me
New Video!
Tony Byrne, a longtime friend and collaborator (remember THIS?) has put out another portrait of his travels--this time through urban India--and sourced the audio from one of my recent collaborations, Waiting for Niko. Good shots, and engaging pacing. You can see India // 2018 with accompanying audio Brothrrs (excerpt) below:
Niko hits the road
Wow! It's been more than a year since I've been in school, which took me by surprise. I've been teaching, teching, and touring more than I ever was able during class, which has been equal parts fulfilling and eye-opening. However, I crave the structure, camaraderie, and growth that the academic environment engenders, so I'm very … Continue reading Niko hits the road
Behold this compost! behold it well.
It's not often that I get to release multiple projects in a week, and this one is particularly special because I was able to collaborate with my hungry, hungry brother (pictured above--or is that me?). This piece served as our senior honors project at Grand Valley State University--still chuckling that we got away with that … Continue reading Behold this compost! behold it well.
wicked problems
I'm delighted to finally release this audio from a session with two of the commissioners, Anna Petrenko and Lindsay Myers. I've spent a dreadful amount of time staring at Finale and Word recently, so it was particularly refreshing to reminisce about this very collaborative project. This piece simply could not have existed without Bill Ryan and … Continue reading wicked problems
RETURN
Tom Huizenga (NPR First Listen) described it "in terms of its arresting atmospherics... a high point for Ryan, his ensemble and former students," FFO: "Max Richter, Daniel Wohl, Hauschka and the remarkable Jacaszek." Peter van Cooten (ambientblog.net), "a stunning set of compositions... A fusion of two worlds coming together in an exceptional way." Adam Cuthbért, Daniel Rhode, and Matt Finch /return/ to … Continue reading RETURN