I’m participating in Come Together: Fifty Years of Abbey Road conference at Eastman!

I’m happy to report that I will be joining the next international Beatles conference “Come Together: Fifty Years of Abbey Road” and presenting my  paper “George Harrison and Something – Sinatra’s ‘favorite Lennon & McCartney song’” at the Eastman School of Music in September. Nothing is Beatle proof! And, if George looks confused… all will be explained in my paper.

Home is happening! Opening May 30th

The score I’ve written for “Home,” a new play by Evolve Puppets (Tanya Khordoc & Barry Weil) is done, and the show opens in New York at the Tank NYC on Thursday, May 30, 2019!

“Home” fuses puppetry, theatre and multimedia (including a lot of music!) into a visually thrilling and emotionally moving story of a woman’s connection to the universe: the Circle Of Life! It features an all-star creative team and cast.

“Home” will be performed at The Tank NYC from May 30-June 2, 2019.

SCHEDULE OF PERFORMANCES:
Thursday May 30 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday May 31 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday June 1 at 3:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Sunday June 2 at 3:00 p.m.

The Tank NYC is located at 312 West 36th Street, NYC between 8th and 9th Avenues, on the 1st floor. Tickets are $20 at 212-563-6269 or at www.brownpapertickets.com. For more information, visit www.evolvepuppets.com.

All Things Are Set Ablaze in Keene and New York City.

Those three forces of nature, otherwise known as ModernMedieval – founder Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek, Martha Cluver, and Eliza Bagg – did two more superb performances of their Words of Love and Wisdom program, including my badass Hildegarde piece From: All Things Are Set Ablaze, as part of the Electric Earth Concerts, Keene, NH. and then at the spectacular Fuentidueña Chapel at The Met Cloisters. And Classical Voice North America loved the program too! Click here for the review. I don’t mind “While it was certainly raucous and exciting – the trio played a tambourine, a small mallet-hit hand drum, and a triangle as they sang – the piece was far from furious. In fact, it was so much fun that Horner-Kwiatek’s final triangle ting earned a chuckle from the audience.”

Elastic Band @Shenendoah Conservatory

I had a great time last week at Shenandoah Conservatory in beautiful Winchester, Virginia. A *very* full visit with friends conductor Tim Robblee and composer extraordinaire Jonathan Newman and the the faculty and students. I taught composition lessons, gave a masterclass, had rehearsal, and heard my Elastic Band (Octet version) performed at the über-hip Bright Box Theater in downtown Winchester. Thank you Jonathan and Tim!

Elastic Band CD submitted to the GRAMMYs!

I’m very pleased that the Acis album be•spoke has been submitted to the GRAMMYs for consideration. There is so much great work by Elena Ruehr, Julian Wachner, Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, Marcus Thompson, the New Orchestra of Washington, Kevin Bourassa, and others on the CD.

I’ve received a 2018 Arts and Humanities Fellowship from the DC Arts Commission!

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve been selected by the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities for an 2018 Arts and Humanities Fellowship (AHFP) for my upcoming projects! I’d like to thank Arthur Espinoza, Jr., Executive Director of the CAH, their hard working staff and panel for their support. Onwards and upwards!

The Strad chimes in on my “fierce little viola piece!”

I am thrilled that violist extraordinaire Andrew Gonzalez (and pianist Ji, Yekwon Sunwoo) has received this positively glowing review in this October’s The Strad Magazine for his Bargemusic recital this past July. Bruce Hodges also had kind things to say about my “fierce little viola piece” When the World Disintegrates Before Your Eyes as well. Mark Peskanov, Bargemusic Artistic & Executive Director is doing great things there! Want to read the complete review? Want to peruse the score? Click here!

Elastic Band – in the recording studio!

Sunday night, fresh off a terrific pair of performances of Elastic Band at Georgetown’s Gonda Theatre and AMP/Strathmore, the New Orchestra of Washington, conducted by Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, hit Omega Studios with producer Geoffrey Silver of Acis Productions at the helm. Great session, can’t wait to hear the final product! (photo: Christian Amonson)

Elastic Band, for chamber orchestra, premieres!

Derek Smith plays the fierce When the World Disintegrates Before Your Eyes

Derek Smith, principal violist of the New Orchestra of Washington, will give the East Coast premiere of my fierce viola piece When the World Disintegrates Before Your Eyes on Georgetown University’s Friday Music Series this coming September 25th at 1:15 pm McNeir Hall, New North Building. Free! The program also includes John B. Hedges’ Clarinet Sonatina “Gumbo” (2008), and Mozart’s “Kegelstatt” Trio in E-flat, K498.