Composition

I compose works for theatre, including musicals, opera, dance, and scores for straight plays, alongside pieces for chamber ensembles. In addition, I am a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, and have written and performed pieces for jazz, rock, and folk ensembles. In each case, I aim to communicate with my audience, and seek ways to establish an emotional connection with listeners through my music.

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Some of my compositions are musicals, scores for straight plays, or pieces for dance performance. They share an interest in narrative, telling stories both through music and other modes of performance, and are often inspired by real-world events. My approach to theatrical composition draws on my experience as a lighting designer and theatre technician, incorporating deep knowledge of stagecraft and the peculiar constraints of live theatre into the pacing and structure of the music itself.

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My chamber music emphasizes personal narratives, ranging from an individual's tragedy to a chance moment in a voice lesson. I am fascinated by these small, intimate stories, and seek ways to communicate those moments and the emotions associated with them, whether wonder, fury, joy, or grief. My stylistic approach is inspired by popular and folk musics, incorporating instrumentation like electric guitar alongside melodic and rhythmic motifs from outside the art music tradition to blur the boundaries between musical genres.