Strength was commissioned by the Kentucky Music Educators Association - originally for the 2021 KMEA All-State High School TTBB Choir, but delayed due to COVID-19 and eventually premiered at the 2022 KMEA conference under the direction of Dr. Eugene Rogers (University of Michigan).
Scoring: TTBB, piano Text: Rabindranath Tagore Duration: 4:30 Publisher: manuscript
We have faced a relentless series of heartaches in 2020, one right after another. The uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the anguish of not being able to sing together, disturbing social justice issues… all of these have tested our resolve.
During the summer, I composed Sing with Me as my own personal response to these concerns; it is the first piece for which I have also written the text. At the time, I was unsure of what the fall semester would look like for my own choir. Would we be in person? If so, how long might that last? Would we have to transition to online learning again? Therefore, I designed the piece to be accessible and adaptable to whatever situation we faced.
My wonderful students at EKU recorded this piece as a virtual choir. It premiered on Monday, November 23 on YouTube (see below).
Scoring: SATB, piano Text: Richard Waters (see below) Duration: 2:00 Publisher: manuscript
I'm thrilled to announce that I have been commissioned by Music Celebrations International to compose a piece for choir, organ, and brass for the Beethoven 250 251 Choral Festival. Using the Jubilate text, the piece will incorporate various motifs from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. It will be premiered on June 10, 2021 at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna.
The Eastern Kentucky University Choirs and Symphony Orchestra presented the world premiere of The Courage for Love - my first extended work for SATB choir, soprano & baritone soloists, and orchestra - on March 2, 2020 at the EKU Center for the Arts. The program also included Handel's Zadok the Priest, Ravel's Bolero, and the Finale from Bruckner's Eighth Symphony.