Below is a statement I prepared and read to our MSO audience at our December 11 (2022) concert, featuring John Rutter's "Gloria." This was in response to various arts and humanities programs being cut at MU and other universities in... Continue Reading →
23 November, 2021 In my naive undergrad years, I was flustered when my professors required me to play and sing Bach's music. I remember my little Romantic-era-loving self making the ignorant statement to Dean Wilder (my voice teacher) waaaaay back... Continue Reading →
17 July, 2021 I am beginning to understand more about my lifelong fascination with dance. It stems from my deep belief in the art of conducting as a simultaneously choreographed and improvised kinetic (and kinesthetic) story-telling device. Beautiful music inspires... Continue Reading →
Update: 22 November, 2021 -- I have a podcast that is devoted to the subject of synesthesia and includes a conversation with Lisa Hickman (a fellow synesthete). You can find it at this link: "Comparing Notes on Synesthesia." 7 July... Continue Reading →
2 May 2020 On March 29, 2020 Krzysztof Penderecki passed away. I am not exaggerating when I say this man was like the Beethoven of the 20th century. He broke all the rules and forced us to consider all sound... Continue Reading →
27 April 2020 I created this little video (under 10 mins - linked below) in honor of College and University Music Students everywhere who are trying to prepare for upcoming remote juries courtesy of Coronavirus. These are strange times indeed... Continue Reading →
22 April 2020 December of this year marks the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth. Conductors all over the world have programmed his works for their 2020 concerts. My colleague Scott Humphries and I were planning an all Beethoven concert with... Continue Reading →
30 March 2020 I had the very great honor of interviewing Stewart Copeland (founder and drummer of The Police), prolific American composer of film and video game music, and also operas, ballets, and orchestral works. He was on the MU... Continue Reading →
UPDATE: 20 February 2021 -- I wrote the blog post below in anticipation of meeting Stewart Copeland back in early 2020 (just before the pandemic). A year later, it's interesting to look back on this article. I was expecting that encounter... Continue Reading →
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