Subito award will fund travel to Amsterdam - posted: June 6, 2008
The American Composers Forum's subito grant has come through to allow me to travel to Amsterdam in November, where Valborg Chor will be performing a concert called "Betinis and Bruckner." (My work will be the first American music they have ever performed!) I've spent only 4 hours in Amsterdam, once, between flights, so I'm looking forward to seeing the city too.

Maria Jette performs part of "Nattsanger" at St. Paul Summer Song Festival - posted: May 2008
Join Maria Jette, clarinetist John Anderson, and pianist Sonja Thompson at The Schubert Club's finale concert for the Saint Paul Summer Song Festival on June 13, 2008 at 7:00 pm, SPCO Center, Hamm Building (408 St. Peter St, Saint Paul, MN).

Podcast interview on "Bar xizam" - posted: April 17, 2008
The Esoterics (see news post below) have just posted a podcast interview with me about my piece Bar xizam (Upward I rise). Listen to the podcast, or subscribe to their RSS feed on their EsoCast page: http://www.theesoterics.org/esocast.

April 12-20, 2008: Performances of Persian Pieces in Washington - posted: April 12, 2008
Two Seattle-based choruses have taken on my Persian language pieces this month. The Esoterics reprise their performances of Bar xizam (Upward I rise) on their 15th Anniversary concerts. And the women of the Seattle Choral Company perform From Behind the Caravan with vielle, oud, ney flute, and Persian hand drums. For more information, see the Calendar.

Nattsanger (Nightsongs) premiered - posted: April 10, 2008
Soprano Jennifer Swanson gave a magnificent premiere performance of my newest song cycle on April 9, 2008 at the University of Minnesota School of Music in Minneapolis. Commissioned by The Schubert Club, Nattsanger is scored for soprano, clarinet, and piano, and sets seven "night" poems of Rolf Jacobsen in his native Norwegian.

Carmina mei cordis at the Basilica! -- March 29, 2008 - posted: March 2008
The Singers--Minnesota Choral Artists will perform my two-movement piece, Carmina mei cordis (Songs of my heart), at their annual concert at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. The program (also featuring Distler's incredible Singet dem Herrn, and selections from Rachmaninoff's Vespers) promises to be a transcendent experience. Order your tickets here.

North Central ACDA Convention - posted: March 2, 2008
If you're heading to the ACDA convention in Fargo March 5-8, come visit me in the exhibition hall. I will be sharing a booth with my friend and colleague J. David Moore, and between the two of us we're bound to have sheet music to suit your chorus's needs. (Or just stop by to say hi.)

NOTICE: Contact form is fixed - February 15, 2008
So, it's been brought to my attention that my contact form wasn't working for about two weeks. If, by chance, you sent a message during that time, I didn't receive it. Sad. But now it's better than ever and awaiting your messages, or email addresses to add to my mailing list.

Collaboration with Spaghetti Western String Co.! - February, 2008
I'm singing in a new a cappella group, Deviated Septet, and we've been invited to open for the local eclectic string band Spaghetti Western! They're releasing a new CD on Saturday, February 9 at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. Show starts at 8:00 pm, we'll start singing at 9:00, then continue to "back up" the band throughout the show. See Calendar.

Preview Performance: Nattsanger (Nightsongs) - January 27, 2008
The Schubert Club has commissioned this 20-minute song cycle for soprano Jennifer Swanson, who will give a preview performance of the first three movements at noon on Thursday, January 31 at a Schubert Club Courtroom Concert. The piece is for soprano, clarinet, and piano, and is settings of Rolf Jacobsen's poetry -- all in his native Norwegian. Details here.

A family tradition of carol writing continues - December 24, 2007
This crazy family tradition of writing an annual Christmas Carol, now spanning three generations, is currently being featured on Minnesota Public Radio, including the premiere of my new carol for 2007, "Run, Toboggan, Run." Hear the archived interview on All Things Considered, or see a different feature on Classical Minnesota Public Radio.

Star Tribune: Young Artists On the Verge - November 11, 2007
Apparently I'm on the verge of something... Unfortunately, they didn't tell me what. I intend to figure it out, though, so it's back to the piano for me...

Jerome Composers Commissioning Program Grant - October 24, 2007
Conductor John Lace has commissioned me to write a band piece for his students at Anoka High School here in Minnesota. Today we learned that the Jerome Foundation will fund it! This is my first major grant, so it's all very exciting. (Will premiere in spring 2009)

Simone Dinnerstein, pianist - October 18, 2007
I met her today, here in Saint Paul, after she played some Goldberg Variations for a Schubert Club concert in the cortile of the Landmark Center. Lucky enough to be looking down from the first balcony, I was mesmerized by the intricate visual patterns her fingers made. Philip Lasser's words came back to me, "Play Bach every day... and cry."

NEW: Online Order Form! - posted: September 17, 2007
Yes, it IS an online order form for choral sheet music. Brand spankin' new. Test it out!