It’s been a wonderful summer, filled with travel and time for other projects. Always good to have a nice break!

I’m going to make this blog a once-a-month thing. The past few months have been filled with a myriad of new endeavors, including some new pieces and new ways of doing things. Eventually I’ll have a newsletter all set up with a button at the bottom of the page for subscribers, but one project at a time. For now, welcome to July’s post!

The Summer Composing Cottage

This summer our main vacation was visiting the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. After a busy season with the orchestra and some big changes at work, this was the perfect retreat to get away for awhile.

Normally on vacations I stay pretty connected, so I bring things like my laptop. This time however I packed my bag with nothing but my notebook (custom made by Coda Leathercraft), 25 pages of blank manuscript, and a draft to one of my symphony movements that needed to be edited and rewritten again. With a light bag and heavy hiking boots, my family and I set off for the cabin in the Smokies.

Such a beautiful trip! When I had down time, I got to focus completely on my symphony. It made me think about composers like Mahler who wrote in their summer cottages, or Holst who wrote during the summers when he wasn’t teaching at the St. Paul’s Girls School.

To do this myself was productive and peaceful, but it required a deep sense of focus and discipline. Having minimal distractions or means of entertainment made my body feel light and empty and my mind sharp and quick—like if the feeling you get when you figure out a riddle was extended for a few hours.

When I wasn’t hiking or munching on trail mix, I was at the writing desk turning out page after page, actually getting the chance these great composers did to be totally immersed in the sound world they were making. Because it took all my attention, I was able to give it everything. For that was what Mahler once said a symphony must contain: everything.

Spring Returns

As I prepare for August (and August’s early month post!), the Summer Music Intensive is coming up. I am looking forward to teaching music history and conducting, but mostly leading the Symphony Orchestra again, as last year I took a more supportive role with the Sinfonietta. Rehearsing is always the highlight of my music making, and I’m especially looking forward to rehearsing and performing one of my pieces, Spring Returns.

Spring Returns was written in 2023, when I was still a teacher. My students read it at one point but it has never been performed. I initially set out to create a lyrical piece that was playable by high school groups, but I wanted the harmonic language and gestures to be the main focus instead of melody.

Please don’t get me wrong—I absolutely love my melodies (and I’m not ashamed to admit it)! This time however I really wanted the listener to experience being outside in the spring, rather than just hearing another pretty melody expressing another pretty thing. I wanted them listening to the birds, smelling the flowers and grass, and enjoying how the sunshine breaks through the leaves on the tree branches up above.

I think when we experience moments in nature like the one I described, we don’t hear a particular tune in our heads as much as we experience the moment’s ambience, atmosphere, and vibe. All the trail stops we made in the Smokies reminded me of that.

In a sense, the piece’s title is also a poetic return to composition. As a new season of life began my needs changed, and part of that change was now having the time to compose music again. Just like the season of spring, here marks a new period of growth.

Stay Tuned

Since Sunseeker’s premiere a few months ago (bravo Nikit and the GNTYO/McKinney Philharmonic!) I’ve been busy building something new. I can’t wait to do a reveal and launch, but like I said above, one project at a time. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to teaching at SMI again next week and having a second world premiere in 2026! I’ll have concert details on the Performances page when I have it all squared away.

For now, the photo you see in the preview is from my time in the Smokies, and the sight reminded me of this piece. There were a lot of beautiful trails with many places to wander off the beaten path and enjoy the scenery. And for now maybe it’s time to do that in more ways than one.

Just don’t forget your trail mix.