December In Review

Ah, December. Every year, it always feels like the end of a marathon. But this year felt different. It felt like the end of a triathlon through the Darien Gap (Pluribus fans, IYKYK). Some notable events this December included:

• Traveling to The Midwest Clinic to work the C. Alan Publications booth, attend three performances (!!!) of my music, and once again delve into the nightly festivities with several thousand of my closest friends in the band and orchestra community in one of my favorite cities in the world, Chicago.

• I enjoyed Christmas with family, proceeded to get sick, and took some time to catch up on Stranger Things 5 Vol. 2 and Finale, Pluribus, and attended a blowout game of the OKC Thunder hosting the Portland Trailblazers. I know this reads like last month’s newsletter, but if it ain’t broke, right?

I finished a few works:

• the simplest of gifts, for string orchestra was originally composed for Dr. Martha Placeres and the University of Texas / Texas Southmost College String Orchestra. It served as my debut as a composer and conductor in 2011.

  • the simplest of gifts is a reimagining of my 2011 arrangement of Simple Gifts, with which I made my debut as both composer and conductor. Returning to the piece fifteen years later has offered an opportunity to reflect on my artistic growth and the ways my musical voice has evolved over time. I hope that the simplest of gifts will be published in the coming year!

And of course, there’s a new work on the horizon that I’d like to announce next:

Announcing a New Consortium!

I recently finished a full orchestra version of one of my favorite recent passion projects of the last few years: a band piece in 2023 titled out on a limb.

This new, full orchestra version of out on a limb, was composed for friend and collaborator Peter Bement and the students of the Huntington Beach High School Symphony Orchestra. It’s scored for full orchestra (with optional saxophones, per Peter’s request), and I think it lends itself quite nicely to this new medium. You can learn more about how to support the consortium as both an individual and ensemble at the link below:

Performance and Concert Updates

Thanks to the following performers for sharing my music with their audiences:

• Temple College Percussion Ensemble performed my Hymn, at their fall concert on December 3rd.

And a special shoutout to the following ensembles for sharing my music at The Midwest Clinic last month:

• The Youth Performing Arts School Percussion Ensemble (KY) performed the first piece of Number Theory Vol. 1.

• The world premiere of Descansos, commissioned by the Ninkasi Percussion Group, received its world premiere.

• Trinity HS Percussion Ensemble (TX) performed my Cosmic Lighthouse.

If you’d like to have me out as a guest composer or conductor in the 2025-26 season, please contact me here.

If you’re programming my music, please let me know so I can give you a shoutout here in future newsletters and report these performances to my Performing Rights Organization, BMI! You can submit concert performances of my music here.

Now Playing

Welcome to “Now Playing,” where I share the things I’m listening to right now.

• I want to share the music of a friend from high school that has started singing and making music again. Angel, or more commonly known as Amarie, released a new single called Lost & Found that I think y’all should listen to!

• I recently just came across the band Forager on Instagram that uses a clever metric modulation going into the chorus of their Pomeranian. It’s sickeningly good to me.

January Happenings and Beyond

After being on the road for 23 days in December, I think it’s time to take a little bit of a travel break. On the other hand, I don’t trust myself enough to believe in that. I’m sure there will be an impromptu trip somewhere.

As for 2026, I am really excited to dedicate my compositional output to the following projects:

• A new video game soundtrack

• A new side project

• At least one full-length album of hybrid orchestral-electronic music.

• Lots of passion projects I’ve wanted to write over the last few years.

I am looking to focus my efforts inward, because there are a ton of things I have to say. Among those passion projects:

• a few concerti

• new and adapted works for large ensembles, such as percussion ensemble, symphony orchestra, and wind ensemble

• works with solo voice and/or choir

• and maybe, just maybe, a full-length symphony.

I don’t usually like to talk about my future projects, but since you’re here, I thought I’d share something that I’m really looking forward to. I hope you’ll come along for the ride.

Happy new year, friends. I can’t wait to see what we all do this year. <3