About Me
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I’m a Twin Cities-based composer who loves telling stories through music. Whether it’s musical theater, art song, choral works, or music for film – my music explores the human experience. I want to take listeners on an emotional journey – one that takes them out of the here-and-now to show them how to live in the here-and-now.
Stylistically, my music blurs the lines and builds bridges between a variety of musical traditions and genres. It’s rooted in pastiche and gives me the ability to take diverse musical elements and forms to create something new.
Writing music was always a secret dream of mine. Despite that dream, I lived much of my life finding excuses for not doing it. In 2014, I came to a crossroad and I decided it was time to finally attend to my creative life. So after a 20-year hiatus, I found a teacher, worked on my craft, and got serious about composing. The decision paid off and led to composing opportunities with the Source Song Festival, Nautilus Music-Theater, Art Song Lab, and VocalEssence.
A long-time choral singer, I’ve sung in such ensembles as the Bach Society of Minnesota and the Bach Society of Louisville, and I’m currently a member of the choir at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Minneapolis.
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Accomplishments
VocalEssence Re-Mix Program (2019-20): One of four emerging composers selected to participate in a year-long composer mentorship program writing two pieces for Intergenerational ensemble consisting of professional adult singers, a highly diverse high school youth choir, and senior adult voices. Mentorship provided by composers Tim Takach and Carol Barnett.
Nautilus Music-Theater Rough Cuts Workshop (2019): Rough Cuts is an informal series of works-in-progress, dialogues between artists and audiences, and explorations of the creative process. In April 2019, we workshopped scenes from the musical “Norman!“.
Nautilus Composer-Librettist Studio (2018): Selected as one of 5 composers for the May 2018 Composer-Librettist Studio. The Studio is presented in cooperation with Nautilus Music-Theater and is designed to provide an opportunity for five writers and five composers to work with professional performers, exploring the possibilities and basic elements of music-theater.
Art Song Lab (2019): Participated in a 6-month long collaborative program that culminated in an intensive summer workshop and a public premiere performance of a new art song. (I Am a Cowboy From Hat to Boot). ASL is a collaborative institute facilitating creative interaction between writers, composers, and performers from around the world to advance the genre of contemporary art song.
Source Song Festival Commission (2018): Commissioned to write an art song (White Out) that premiered at the opening concert of the festival on August 6, 2018.
Source Song Festival (2017): Selected as one of 8 composers for the 2017 Source Song Festival in Minnesota. During the week-long festival, I received a private lesson and attended a variety of seminars led by Festival Composer/Mentor Libby Larsen; collaborated with professional festival musicians to prepare and present my work at the Festival Composer’s recital.