Composer
My work spans many genres, including orchestral, band, opera, music theater, multimedia performance art, chorus, jazz ensembles, chamber music, art song, organ, and piano. It spans a similar breadth of styles, ranging from pedagogical pieces for students to approachable pieces for amateurs to challenging concert works for professionals. Major performances include the Pittsburgh Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Arditti String Quartet, Alexander String Quartet, the Dale Warland Singers, Counterinduction, Bluegrass Opera, Burklyn Ballet Theatre, and Stephanie Blythe. My work is published by G. Schirmer Inc., Cantando Musikkforlag, and Sweet Child Music, and it has been recorded on the Innova, Albany, Ravello, Ablaze, New Ariel, Equilibrium, Jeanné, and ERM labels.
Conductor
With training and experience in directing instrumental, choral, and music theater ensembles, and I have worked with a variety of groups at the college and community levels. I currently direct The Any Music Singers, as well as the Choir at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Canton, NY.
Teaching
Over a career of 34 years, I taught at 10 different colleges, as well as in adult education, public school workshops, and community enrichment programs. These courses included all areas of music (e.g. composition, theory, musicology, aural skills, jazz arranging, music theater, world musics), as well as interdisciplinary courses in biology and core academic skills (e.g. writing, presentation, research, career preparation). I received numerous awards for teaching, including the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. At SUNY-Potsdam, I was also voted Teacher of the Year three times. My pedagocial research focused on the psychological processes of aural skills acquisition.
