2009 has been a fun and productive year for composition. Several recently completed projects include String Quartet in C, Untitled - Hip-hop Beat 1, and Joseph, Look and See. In addition to new music, the design of this site is going through some major changes. The next compositional project will be an organ reduction of Chorus of Psalms, along with several other works planned for 2010. It promises to be a great new year!

Trio for Oboe, Viola and Piano has recently been completed and will be posted on my web site shortly.  It was composed for the Aeon Trio of Omaha, Nebraska.  The next project in the works is a string quartet for another set of talented musicians from the Omaha area.  My project planning for the year is done, but there may be room for another piece if the right opportunity presents itself.  Contact me if you are interested in commissioning a work.

Prelude in G for Brass Quartet in brand new for 2009!  Composed for the "Solid Brass Quartet" of Omaha, Nebraska, Prelude in G is a wonderful addition to any wedding repertoire and certainly does well as part of a concert program. Its slow-two pulse and flowing lyrical lines add to the beauty and significance of any special occasion.

Lift Every Voice and Sing! is a gospel swing arrangement of the original words and music of James W. and John R. Johnson that were published at the very beginning of the 20th century.  The powerful, spiritual and deeply meaningful text and melody are widely known also as "The Black National Anthem."   It describes the struggle of a "dark past" but resounds with hope, faith and perseverance of a people who never wavered even against seemingly insurmountable odds.   Finally, Johnson's words remind us to never forget what we have learned from our past, an important lesson in any man's history.  Lift Every Voice was commissioned by the Boston Children's Chorus. 

The First Noel offers treble choirs a fresh and interesting arrangement of a traditional text and melody.  It was composed in December 2007 for the Boston Children's Chorus as a submission for NBC's "Clash of the Choirs" promotional competition.  Noel was a winning selection and was posted on the NBC clash of the Choirs web site.

The Lord's Prayer is one of the latest additions to the treble chorus repertoire for 2007.  This piece features an adaptation of the traditional Lord's Prayer for unaccompanied SSAA chorus.   The Lord's Prayer is a wonderfully resonant and powerfully ethereal work, excellent for performance in a church cathedral setting.       

Laura, How I Love You is the newest addition to the Gardner Choral Series, now available in a SATB, Bar. Solo, Piano, Oboe and Cello arrangement.  It was composed as a gift for my wife's birthday, including the text. 

A newly arranged version of "Embers" (Through the Smoke of Burning Embers), a tribute to the victims, families and heroes of September 11, 2001, is now available (SATBB and Piano).  Originally premiered by Community Bible Church of Omaha, Nebraska in November of 2001, the newest version of Embers powerfully portrays a sense of hope, perseverance and thanksgiving in the midst of tragedy.  "Embers" was selected for reading at the Nebraska Choral Directors Association Summer Festival 2007. 

I have recently completed a work for SSAA, solo Bb Trumpet, and chamber strings entitled Prayer of Saint Francis. The work features poetry attributed to St Francis of Assisi, born in the late 12th century.  Though not actually composed by Saint Francis, his great devotion to God is beautifully echoed in this poem, as much a work of art, as a humble prayer.

If you have a specific need for a piece for your ensemble, I am always open to new ideas.