Easter music during COVID-19

A few weeks after the pandemic forced the closure of all churches in the Episcopal diocese of Los Angeles, Bishop Taylor gave organists special permission to go alone into their churches once and record music for Easter Day. I had planned on playing the finale from Vierne’s first symphony as my Easter closing voluntary, but the weeks of practice I lost prevented that. Instead, I played an improvisation for opening voluntary, and Dubios’ Fiat Lux for closing.

Approaching 2020

I am thrilled to announce that I successfully defended my dissertation at UCLA, and have completed the Ph.D. 2020 begins with a Music Technology course at Mt. St. Mary’s University, and the Pacific Opera Project double-bill of Gianni Schicci and L'enfant et les sortilèges.

If you’d like to hear what I’ve been up to in the second half of December, check out the livestream of the St. John’s Cathedral Christmas Eve Mass. The choir, orchestra, and soloists were wonderful. Music includes Finzi’s In terra pax, carols by Rutter and Gardner, Haydn’s Mass in B-flat, and the full complement of Willcocks descants! You can hear my closing voluntary, In dulci jubilo, BWV 729, by J.S. Bach at the 2 hr 20 min mark.

Fall 2019 update

Here’s what’s new since my last post way back in 2017: I’ve just started my second year of teaching theory and musicianship at Moreno Valley College, and I’m enjoying it immensely. The students are engaged and bright, and I’m happy to be giving back to the community college system that gave me my start in music.

My current project is my dissertation piece, a chamber piano concerto. Here’s my most recent recorded piece, wonderfully performed by Olivier Huebscher on his doctoral recital at Indiana University. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPk7D__9sW4

New position at St. John's Cathedral

I am thrilled to announce that I have accepted the position of Organist at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles. I am so excited to get to work with their new Canon for Music Ministry, Dr. Christopher Gravis, and to be a part of such a vibrant and important community. As the Pro-Cathedral of the LA diocese, St. John's hosts many of the important functions of the church year, including installations, ordinations, and fundraising events. The organ - E.M. Skinner's Opus 446 from 1924 - is magnificent. 

Inside the Music at Disney Hall

I'm extremely honored and excited to announce that I'll be playing two Schubert songs at Disney Hall tomorrow at 6:45 PM, as part of the LA Phil's "Inside the Music" series. Dudamel is conducting Schubert symphonies 1 and 2 and Mahler Songs of a Wayfarer, and Brian Lauritzen asked us to perform two songs from Winterreise as a sort of appetizer. Thomas Segen and I will perform "Einsamkeit" and "Der Leiermann." 

December Performances

December is a crazy time for pretty much every musician I know. Here's a few of my contributions to this marathon of a month:

Sunday, December 4 at 2:00 PM - I'm singing with my sister's group Laudat! and a couple guys from Ensemble XXI on Laudat's Christmas concert and charity fundraiser. First Presbyterian Church of Redlands, 100 Cajon St, Redlands, CA.

Ensemble XXI and Community Chorus of Redlands Christmas program: Friday, Dec. 9 (First Congregational in Redlands), Saturday Dec. 10 (Faith Lutheran in Yucaipa), and Sunday Dec. 11 (St. Rita's in Sierra Madre).

Windward School Fall Concert, Wednesday, Dec. 14, Broad Theater, Santa Monica - accompanying the choirs of the Windward School.

Sunday, December 18, 9:30 AM - First Presbyterian Church of Redlands Christmas Music Sunday. I'll be directing the Chancel Choir in anthems and carols by John Rutter, Will Todd, and Charles Wood. 

Christmas Eve, 5:00 PM - First Pres in Redlands will present a service of Lessons and Carols. Then at 10:30 PM, I'll be joining the choir of St. Wilfrid of York in Huntington Beach for their carols concert and Christmas Eve mass. 

Performance Updates - Pacific Opera Project and UCLA Opera

November is a crazy month. I'm currently in the middle of a 5 performance run of The Barber of Seville with Pacific Opera Project, playing the piano 4-hands version (Schoenberg, no less) with music director Stephen Karr. Three shows left (Nov. 17, 18, and 19 at the Ebell Club of Highland Park). Check out POP at www.pacificoperaproject.com. 

In other news, in February I'll be singing with the chorus in Massenet's Cendrillion at UCLA Opera (my first opera as a singer).