Apparently I can only manage to update my news page every two years or so these days, so here is my biennial news round-up!
Life continues to be busy and fulfilling, and my family and I continue to enjoy our no-longer-new Tennessee home community and surroundings. After my year as a visiting assistant professor at the University of the South during the 2024-25 academic year, I became tenure-track at the University and I continue to love my job and students there. In addition to my teaching, I am enjoying contributing to my university community through service, including on the Performing Arts Series advisory board and as a Faculty Fellow for mentored research and creative work, with an upcoming term on the Curriculum and Academic Policy committee. I have facilitated visits from performing artists Dom Flemons and Black Moon Trio to our little university town of Sewanee, with more visitors to come…
Recent composition projects and performances include:
I was The Crossing’s resident composer for the 2024-2025 season, culminating in performances of my piece for the ensemble, Nativity. The piece is on a poem by Esther Margaret Ayers of the same name – a gritty, realistic but profoundly beautiful re-telling of the birth of Jesus from Mary’s perspective.
I was commissioned by soprano Mary Hubbell to write a song cycle for her recent album, which I completed on some lovely and unique poetry by early Beat poet Georgia Douglas Johnson.
I had a collection of piano solos for church and several string orchestra pieces published by T.U.X. People’s Music. I served as their choral & strings editor for two years – I wish I could have continued in this position, but things just got too busy. Much love to the T.U.X. team!
I have had performances by performers and ensembles including the Choir of Selwyn College Cambridge, the Choir of Trinity Church Princeton, the University of Richmond Schola Cantorum, the Chestnut Street Singers, and the Sewanee Symphony Orchestra, among many others.
Somewhere in there, I took up rock climbing and (very slowly) ran the Nashville Marathon. Great times!