This Fall I will start work on a Doctorate of Music in Composition at Florida State University. It's needless to say that I am beyond excited for this opportunity! Every single aspect of the program at FSU is exactly what I was looking for. At my interview I instantly felt at home, and really felt a connection with all of the professors I met. Everything about the atmosphere and people there just seemed to click. I will also have a full-time teaching assistantship, so I'll be teaching 2-3 classes each semester as well. It's going to be busy, but I'm ready for it! I just hope the humidity doesn't kill me.

I have a new YouTube channel HERE!

​Use this as a convenient way to view some of my works, and as a way to keep up with my activities. Subscriptions and shares are of course appreciated! It's also a great way to showcase the amazing performers I've had the chance to work with. 

My concert on Nov. 1st went exceedingly well, with great performances and premieres from all performers! This is my favorite part of being a composer - working with musicians who bring your music to life. It was great being able to work with many faculty members this time around, and other mature performers - it makes a world of difference. I was also very pleased with the overwhelming number of people who were either in attendance or watched online; thank you to all who came out or tuned in!

And a huge thank you goes to Kristen Hoffman, Dr. David Yeomans, Jonathan Wall, Dr. Devon Howard, Emmanuel Kwok, Dr. Jon Burgess, Katie Kelly, Mark Belding, Andrew Shira, Fredy Diaz, Raymond Flores, Grace Kimbrough, Alistair Watson, Emily Long, Liqian Zhao, Mehrdad Gholami, José Pablo Quesada, and the TCU stage crew.

I am very excited to announce that I will be holding a concert of my music on November 1st!

The program will consist of nine pieces performed by TCU students and faculty, faculty from Southwestern Adventist University, and other guest artists. This will also feature the premiere of Rubaie, a newly composed piece for flute and celesta. More info here. 

Public Facebook event here!

See the concert live-streamed here!

Free parking is available at the corner of Cantey and Rogers, right across the stree from the hall. If that lot is full, the lot on Rogers and McPherson is the next closest one.

There will be a live stream available for those out of town.
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The program is as follows: 
Der Baum - soprano, piano

When I Have Fears That I May Cease to Be
O Thou Whose Face Hath Felt the Winter's Wind
On the Sea
 - baritone, paino

Theme and Variations - cello solo

Solo for Trumpet 
​
Fanfarewell - brass quintet

String Quartet No. 2, 1st Movement 

Rubaie - flute, celesta

This giant project is finally completed, coming in at around 16 minutes long. There are only some small details that will be changed as rehearsals continue with the piece. There is still much work to do before making this piece publish-ready, however, as fingering charts must be compiled for multiphonics, timbral trills, and quarter tones.

Check out the program notes for a further description here!

Composition on the fourth and final movement of Rubaie has begun. I am very excited as the end is in sight for this long-awaited project. Teaching took a lot of time away from my composition this last year, which makes the prospect of this piece's completion even sweeter. Of all the pieces I've written, I've definitely thought about this one the most. Sometimes it takes a lot of time outside of actually putting notes on the page, but that time is still incredibly important (and most of the time absolutely necessary), and consequently elevates the meaning and purpose of those notes. There is still much work to do, but I can tell it's going to be a special piece! 

​Here's a preview of the third movement:

My good friend and excellent flautist Mehrdad Gholami asked me to write a piece for flute and celesta. See a description here. Deciding on which poems to use proved to be quite a lengthy (yet enjoyable) process; but, with our quatrains selected, I've been able to start on the musical side of this project!

I spent two weeks surrounded by the beauty of Halfway, Oregon, making music and many new friends as well. I was fortunate enough to meet many amazing musicians, as well as write two pieces for some of them during my time there. These pieces, along with a previous arrangement, were premiered at the final concert:  

Der Baum
   Song for soprano voice and piano
   For Kristen Hoffmann, soprano; Ada Wu, piano

Theme and Variations
   Solo cello
   For Alex Duke

Gott, der Herr, ist Sonn' und Schild - Cantata 79
   I. Chorus
   II. Aria
   III. Chorale
   VI. Chorale
by J. S. Bach
   Arranged for oboe, trumpet, 2 cellos, piano, timpani, and chorus
   For the Clear Creek Music Festival
Amy Melnychuk, oboe; Ron Hunter, trumpet; Alex Duke, cello; Shota Hattori, continuo cello; Matthew Briggs, timpani; John Mueter, piano; Lauren Escalante, mezzo-soprano; Clear Creek Community/Festival Chorus; Dr. Blaise Ferrandino, conductor

I graduated from Texas Christian University with a Masters of Music in Music Composition!

I have been accepted to the Clear Creak Music Festival in Halfway, Oregon this July! Preparations begin as I am arranging a Bach Cantata for the festival, and writing one or two original pieces.