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Shrek the Musical officially opens tomorrow night, and it’s incredible! Here are some shots I took at parents night. These kids have worked SO hard; don’t miss it!
She’s 15! Happy birthday to the one that forever changed our lives (for the better, of course 😊) We love you and are very proud of you, Peyton!!!
I know the groundhog saw his shadow, but come on…when will this snow end?!
Slowly making my way home to the snowy tundra after a wonderful weekend in South Carolina where I conducted the Junior All-State Band. Fabulous students and teaching in SC! We also premiered a brand new work of mine called “Earthshine,” which my band knocked out of the park! Thank you to Chuck Deen and the rest of the SCBDA for the opportunity!
Congratulations to my dear friends and fellow clinicians Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin and Dave Biedenbender; you were wonderful, and it was a joy to spend the weekend with you both!
Home after two wonderful days with great friends and colleagues! It was a pleasure to serve band students and their directors at the All-Iowa Band Festival! Having spent the better part of ten years in Iowa, the state will always feel like home. The fine directors and students that make up the Iowa band community will always have a special place in my heart! ❤️ Huge thank you to Jacquelyn Meunier for the invitation!
Congratulations to Peyton and Lyla! Both participated in the MN ACDA State Honor Choir (SATB and SSAA). The groups sounded amazing, and you did a great job representing your Aitkin High School music program!!
We look surprisingly chill now, but wow. All of the emotions after today’s Kennesaw Mountain String Orchestra concert. I’m so proud of you and your students’ performance of Only Light (string orchestra)!
Wonderful program and performance tonight, Cobb Wind Symphony; I’m grateful Only Light was included!! #GMEA
Two composers in a car…there must be a joke in here somewhere…
I had a great time on Saturday serving as a co-clinician at the University of Northwestern St. Paul Honor Band on Saturday! Many thanks to my wonderful friend and partner-in-crime for the day, Cassie Bechard, for the invitation. Additionally, thank you to all of my MN band director friends for sharing your awesome students for the day; we had a blast!
I was also able to take a few photos when I wasn’t on the podium. And an added bonus - my daughter Peyton played trumpet in the band!!
I’ve got a bunch of photos to get through from the past month! It’s been as beautiful a winter as I can recall!
Anna’s first time skating!
Merry Christmas!
Grateful to have made it home! Wonderful concerts and friends this year in Chicago; thanks to all that made it memorable!!!
Booth #1917. Swing in, check out some music and say “hi!”
Midwest friends! While I’m still without power (it’s been over two days and counting), I’m still hopeful to escape the snowy tundra 😂 Either way, please stop by booth #1917 (my music will definitely be there, thanks to Sean of Murphy Music Press!) and say “hi!” I also have a few performances I’d love for you to consider.
All the Things I’m Not (grade 3) - Lone Star HS Wind Symphony, Monday @ 4:30 Mark Poole and his students sound amazing, and I can’t wait to check them out in-person!
Among the Aspens (grade 2) - VanderCook College of Music Symphonic Band, Wednesday @ 11:00 Alex Kaminsky has a been a close friend for many years (Alex was also the first person to perform my music at Midwest!), and I’m thrilled to work with him again!
Longitude 91 Publications will also have two jazz charts on the new music reading session (Wednesday morning). One by me (A Final Soliloquy) and one by Joel Vanderheyden (Mississippi Mojo).
Hope to see lots of friends soon!
What a beautiful morning to be out in the snow! Here’s what it looks like, Flanagan HS Wind Orchestra 😉
While preparing to Zoom with a school working on Temperance, it occurred to me that most that perform the work haven’t actually visited the Temperance River in northern MN. While I can’t fix that, I can post an image of the Temperance taken this past July! #temperance
Ok, so one of the many things I love about my new studio is all of the windows looking out into the woods. I usually see the run-of-mill forest creatures, but yesterday something unusual caught my eye. I grabbed my camera and after about 45 minutes of hide and seek—spoiler alert: it’s a weasel, and they are quick!— I was able to get a picture. Have you seen one before? This was a first for me! (F 1.8 1/160 100 ISO)