Despite the MANY challenges of 2016, there have been a lot of creative opportunities for me, for which I am grateful.
Blackbird premiered with the splendid Cascade Quartet, and then again with my dance and video collaborators Gary Abbott and Caitlin Horsmon, a culmination of the work I did at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts during the summer of 2015.
One Voice premiered and was recorded for my 2nd CD with long-time collaborator Michael Hall and new friend/collaborator Megan Ihnen who I reconnected with in Baltimore at New Music Gathering this past January (we met first in Vienna with Michael on an absolutely incredible evening at Saint Stephen’s Cathedral… seriously, Bach’s organ toccata was playing upon our entrance). It was a sign indeed!
I recorded Folium – prime and cubed, as well as Spark.
Then I had the great honor and pleasure to attend the MacDowell Colony as a fellow. Three weeks seemed small in retrospect, but I met so many incredible creative spirits during that precious time there (Toni Morrison, Tania Leon and Bill Jacobson to name a few — Bill took this pic which encapsulates so much for me at this time).
At MacDowell, I started my Preludes project with pianist Holly Roadfedlt inspired by paintings by Jim Condron, as well as sketching my first orchestral commission for the Baroque on Beaver Music Festival led by Robert Nordling, which will premiere in August of 2017. I signed on with PARMA for my second CD which will release in November of 2017.
Gushiness aside. MacDowell made me soft, what can I say. Thanks for the occasions 2016. 2017 will be new indeed. Starting off with more recordings and the premiere of Sky-born🙂