Projects

As a composer and producer, I often write pieces. But sometimes the pieces begin to add up, and a more substantive project results. Most of my projects emerge from my love for words and fall into a broad category of “literary adaptations.”

• Celebrating Wendell Berry in Music began as a small collection of choral settings of texts by my literary hero, Wendell Berry. The collection grew into a terrific album, featuring the Salt Lake Vocal Artists (Dr. Brady R. Allred, director) and Mr. Berry himself. This album is released by Tantara Records and distributed by NAXOS of America.
• The Bridge is a concert-length adaptation of “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” a classic American short story by Ambrose Bierce. The narrative is relayed through gorgeous contemporary dance and new music. The Bridge is produced by SALT Contemporary Dance.
• They All Saw a Cat is an eleven-minute concert music adaptation of the Caldecott Honor Book by Brendan Wenzel. In a contemporary nod to Tchaikovsky’s Peter and the Wolf, this piece features orchestra and narrator—with the added fun of motion graphics illustrations projected above the orchestra.