The award-winning, multimedia hub “I Care If You Listen” has written a wonderful review of Ensemble Pi’s “Reparations Now” concert, where my pierrot ensemble piece “The Pattern,” premiered. Of my piece Jillian Degroot wrote:

Much like the effect of this startling truth, the small ensemble immediately erupted into cacophony. The violin (Airi Yoshioka) and cello (Alexis Gerlach), followed closely by the flute (Loggins-Hull) and clarinet (Moran Katz), settled into anxious tremolos. Tones bled downward in pitch bends as conductor Raquel Klein sensitively cued soloistic laments from players throughout the ensemble. Moments of hope blossomed before returning once more to chaos—a potent metaphor for the systemic white supremacy enacted on Black Americans since 1619.

Read the entire review here.

I recently reunited with an old friend and how sweet it was. Meena Bhasin, violist and co-artistic director of San Francisco’s Noe Music, and I were in a trio back in 2001! We were young students in the Chamber Music Program of New York Youth Symphony and performed Debussy’s Sonata for flute, viola, and harp (with harpist Irantzu Aguirre!), at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Oh, the memories!! She and her husband Owen Dalby, invited me to be a guest on Noe Music’s “The Listening Club,” an online series featuring performers, a curated playlist, and insightful conversation. In the beginning of our conversation, we reflected on the close-knit community of classical musicians, and our unique experience of “growing-up” together through our training. We highlighted various projects I’ve been a part of that focus on the human story and experience, including Flutronix’s latest work Discourse, Nathalie Joachim’s Fanm d’Ayiti, Amanda Gookin’s Forward Music Project, and my latest commission for Ensemble Pi. It was a true joy to spend an hour with Meena and Owen, and I’m excited to share our conversation with you all. Take a listen.

I had a fantastic conversation with the great radio personality and “classical music agitator” Garrett McQueen on his podcast, Trilloquy. Joined by Idith Korman of Ensemble Pi, we talked about their upcoming concert “Reparations Now” and my new piece for the performance called, “The Pattern,” along with the meaning of reparations and the many patterns of white supremacy. The conversation was rich and illuminating, and I do hope you will all take a listen!

Listen to the Trilloquy podcast.

“Reparations Now” will stream live at 7pm EST on Thursday, October 29, 2020 on The Center at West Park’s website. The event is free and there is a $10 suggested donation.

It was just a joy to chat with my friend and flutist Tim Hagen on his wonderful, new podcast, Rally. Each episode of Rally features a conversation with a different working professional about their journey and the role resilience has played in their life. I had the opportunity to talk to Tim about everything from early influences, second jobs, failures, and successes. I’m so proud of Tim and his inspiring podcast, take a listen!

Listen to Rally.

WHUP

I had a blast talking and sharing music with Tarik Ghiradella and Anna Linvill of WHUP’s “Composer’s Studio.” This show features live performances and conversations with living classical composers and musicians about music, life, and what’s happening in the genre defying world of classical music today. “Composer’s Studio” is a place where living art is made, a place without boundaries where inspiration can come from anywhere from birdsong to heavy metal, Vivaldi to the hum of a vacuum cleaner. Classical composers today are no longer confined to the concert stage or the cathedral but contribute to film scores, television commercials, video game soundtracks and beyond. With special emphasis on the local scene, this is a classical music show like none you have ever heard. Listen to the full episode here!