This morning I successfully defended my dissertation “Red Wind for Soprano, Narrator, and Chamber Ensemble, Bass Cathedral for Clarinet and Wind Ensemble, Red Wind (Desert Remix) for Generative Software, and Form and Exhaustion in Pascal Dusapin’s Quad – In Memoriam Gilles Deleuze” at Duke University. My committee was co-chaired by John Supko and Stephen Jaffe, who were joined by Scott Lindroth and Bill Seaman. Huge thanks to them and to everyone who has supported me on my musical journey.

It was great to participate today in a residency with Nahid and Alsarah of Alsarah & The Nubatones at the Durham School of the Arts. After a stunning performance by the band, the DSA chorus treated us by singing Alsarah’s “3roos Elneel (Bride of the Nile,” which I had arranged for SAB mixed chorus. This is the first of a series of US-based Muslim artists Duke Performances is bringing to Durham as part of a project that seeks to combat Islamophobia and strengthen understanding, through music, between local Muslim and non-Muslim communities. I am thrilled to have been a part of it and to have shared in the experience with the students at DSA and the Nubatones.

Bravo to clarinetist David Angelo and the Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble, led by Matthew Marsit, on a fantastic first performance of <em>Bass Cathedral</em> last Friday at Old South Church in Boston. The piece is based on the novel of the same name by Nathaniel Mackey, and is featured in my dissertation at Duke.

Excited to have been admitted to the Aspen Music Festival and School as a composition fellow for the summer of 2018. During my residency there ensembles will premiere forthcoming works for orchestra and chamber ensemble.

The recording of my dissertation piece Red Wind is now up under Recordings and Scores (click the reveal box next to Chamber Music to access it). The work sets the poetry of Nathaniel Mackey to music for narrator, soprano, and chamber ensemble. Many thanks to Mr. Mackey, the wonderful players, and Duke Performances for their hard work putting this recording together.

I’m excited to be in residence at the Bowdoin International Music Festival this summer. Looking forward to performances of my chamber works by festival participants and fellows.

Recording my dissertation piece Red Wind today in Baldwin Auditorium at Duke University with Mellissa Hughes, Nathaniel Mackey, Bill Kalinkos, Sam Budish, Tim Leopold, Mike Lormand, and the Brothers Balliett. I look forward to sharing it here after editing.

I’m thrilled to receive a Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The press release may be viewed here: 2017 Music Awards.

The 2017 SCI Region IV Student Conference at University of North Carolina, Greensboro, has been a great experience so far. Looking forward to a performance of my wind quintet BEACON tonight by the Spice Quintet.

Last night the Durham Medical Orchestra, led by Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant, gave the premiere of my arrangement of J.S. Bach’s Double Concerto in D Minor BWV 1043, adapted for two soprano saxophones and orchestra, in Baldwin Auditorium at Duke University. The soloists were North Carolina’s own virtuosi Susan Fancher and Branford Marsalis. It was an incredible performance! Many thanks to maestro Mösenbichler-Bryant, Ms. Fancher, Mr. Marsalis, and all of the orchestral players, it was a wonderful experience. Read a review by Bill Robinson here: CVNC.