Another update with a number of things to cover.

Firstly, I am happy to announce that I will be on exchange at the Sibelius Academy starting in September, 2017, and going until the end of February, 2018, after which I will return to The Hague to complete my Masters Degree. While in Helsinki, I will be studying privately with Juhani Nuorvala, a Finnish composer who specializes in microtonal music. I will also be taking private orchestration lessons with Canadian/Finnish composer, Matthew Whittall.

A recent work of mine, Crystalline (2017) for flute, saxophone, piano, and contrbass will be premiered in London, England by the La Tache Ensemble on June 12th at the Royal College of Music. Additionally, my newest work, Liminal Luminosity (2017) for amplified violin, cello, contrabass, and electric guitar, will be given it’s premiere on June 29th by the Hodiernal Quartet, a new group based in The Hague and led by American bassist Cody Takacs. There will also be a premiere of a recent text score of mine, Pack (2017) by the Royal Trash Ensemble in The Hague on June 22nd.

Also on the docket for the summer is a new work for baritone saxophone and electronics for Dutch saxophonist Daan van Koppen. Daan is an incredibly active saxophone player in The Netherlands, playing with groups such as Kluster5, 9×13, AskoSchönberg, The Hague Saxophone Quartet, and others. Daan and I have worked together before: he was responsible for the commissioning of my work Palindromes & Melodies (2016) last year, and has given my soprano saxophone work, Deflection (2015) considerable attention and multiple performances. He is a good friend, an amazing player, and I am looking forward to turning out a new work for him.

My work Gamebook I for 3+ woodwind instruments was premiered this past Monday in The Hague. Recording and rulebook will follow. My other work, Crystalline will be premiered in May by the La Tache Ensemble in London, England. I have also been commissioned by the Hoediernal Quartet (guitar, violin, cello, contrabass) to compose a new work for them to be premiered at the end of June in multiple locations across the Netherlands.

I’ve recently begun delving into the world(s) of text scores, game pieces, and performance art. I am going to post my thoughts, discoveries, observations, and other things in the ‘Blog’ portion of this website. In the meantime, updates will be here as usual.

Spring brings two new works along for the ride. First is a new game piece I wrote for three or more woodwind players titled Gamebook based on classic choose-your-own-adventure games and books (D&D, Goosebumps, etc…). The second is a new work for the La Tache Ensemble, to be premiered in May in London, England. The work is called Crystalline and is scored for saxophone, double bass, piano, and flute.

Some updates, as it’s been a while since I last did this. The newly completed Palindromes & Melodies (2016) will be given its full premiere on November 29th by Kluster5 at De Link in Tilburg. More details to follow.

I have also begun work on a new piece for the La Tache Ensemble, based out of London, England.

Heading into the summer now. On June 21st I will leave for Finland for two weeks, one of which will include the summer festival.

In between the last post and this one, I had my final concert of my second Bachelor Degree at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague. I have been invited back for a Master’s Degree that will begin in the Fall. There was a concert as part of the graduation process. My works Deflection and Dharmachakra were included on the programme, as well as the premiere of a short electronic work of mine entitled I Think There’s Something Wrong with the Radio.

In May, Kluster5 premiered the first movement of my new work Palindromes & Melodies. They did a very fine job with the piece and I’m looking forward to hearing the entire work in the Autumn.

That’s all for now. More soon.

This past March, the Oerknal! New Music Collective premiered my new work, Glasz, for six instruments, in Amsterdam with a subsequent concert in Den Haag. They did a very fine job performing and rehearsing. You can find a link to the audio recording here.

The Spring Festival at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague also recently wrapped up. Five days of concerts with new works and performances by groups such as Kluster5, Ensemble Klang, and more. My work Deflection was performed again by Daan van Koppen. The audio recording can be found here, and the video recording here.

I will also be traveling to Finland once again this summer to take part in the Sävellyspaja workshop in Porvoo. The workshop is headed by the composer and harpsichordist, Jukka Tiensuu, and will coincide with the Sounds of Summer Festival in Porvoo. During this time a new work for ten instruments will be workshopped and premiered by the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra.

The audio and video recordings of my work, Deflection (2015) are now posted on Soundcloud and Youtube. Deflection was played on December 14th at Korzo Theatre in Den Haag. The next performances of the piece are schedule for April, 2015 at the Spring Festival of the Royal Conservatory of the Hague, and at the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference in Lubeck, Texas, in 2016.

Deflection for soprano saxophone and tape was given its Dutch premiere this past Monday at the Korzo Theatre in The Hague by saxophonist Daan van Koppen. There will be a recording available shortly.

Deflection will also be performed in 2016 by Canadian saxophonist Jeffery Leung at the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference. This year the conference will be held in Texas.

I have also been asked to write a work for new Dutch ensemble, Kluster5, who’s ensemble consists of violin, saxophone, percussion, piano, and guitar. The work will be premiered on May 5th, 2016 in The Hague.